Title: Caught Up in His Shirt Tale (3/3)
By: adoreleo
Rating: Strong R - Contains some language, sexual innuendo and situations.
Characters: Leo, Margaret, Jed and Josh
Spoilers: Anything up to and including An Kne.
Disclaimer: The characters are from the NBC, WB, TV show The West Wing; they do not belong to me.
Beta & Additional Ideas By: Lynn, who always goes above and beyond the call. THANKS!!!!
Author's Notes: Lynn wrote the fireplace scene at the end of this story. Thanks Lynn!!!
Feedback: I would love it hear your opinion! Suggestions are welcome too!
Summary: Leo receives some disturbing news and it causes him to confront some old demons with a little help from his friends.
Part 3:
It's around eight o'clock when they get back from dinner. Leo unlocks the door to the chalet and ushers Margaret though it. Leo heads for the couch and sits down slowly, rubbing his temples. He's been really quiet during the ride back to the chalet.
Margaret watches him for a few seconds, and then walks next to the couch and stands there, watching him. "Leo, are you okay?"
"Yeah... I'm fine," rolls off his lips before he even thinks about it. It's been his standard, automatic answer these past few years.
"Leo?" Margaret questions with a raised eyebrow. She has always been able to see right through him.
"Uh huh," he replies, continuing to rubs his eyes.
"Does your head hurt?" She asks, moving to the back of the couch. Reaching down, she starts to massage his shoulders.
"Yeah... a little," he relents, leaning his head back on the couch and looking up at her. He closes his eyes as she continues to rub his shoulders and neck. "Mmm... that feels so good."
Margaret bends over and kisses his brow. She's been wondering what happened to him tonight. When left had left for the restaurant, he was in a good mood, playful even, and it had continued through most of meal. But, after they ordered dessert and coffee, he became very quiet and he had spent the entire ride back up the mountain in silence, too.
"Leo, what... happened tonight at dinner?" She hesitantly asks, as she continues to massage his neck and shoulders. She knows he's still bothered by the events of the last few days, but his mood had changed so quickly.
"What'd ya mean?" He replies, trying to postpone the inevitable. He knows that Margaret's not going to let him off the hook that easily.
"I... was just wondering... why you got so quiet before dessert came? Did I say something to upset you?" She softly asks with an apprehensive tone and a worried glance.
"No," Leo sighs, while reaching up to touch her face. "You didn't do or say anything wrong."
"Okay," she answers, covering his hand with hers, then entwining her fingers with his. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"Nah... not really... but I will," he surrenders, motioning for her to come sit down next to him.
Margaret releases his hand, walks around and sits down next to him. She lays a hand on his lap, then turns to look at him. "Leo... it's just..." She glances down at her resting on his leg.
"You worry," Leo halfheartedly smirks.
"Yeah, that too," she faintly confides, as she plays with the crease in his pant leg. "I... I just hate to see you like this." She casts her eyes downward and stares at her hands.
"Margaret, really, I'm fine," he says, reaching over and tipping her chin back up towards him. "It's just... well I was just thinking about Kenny and ...." Leo breathes a heavy sigh, while releasing her chin. He can't continue. It still hurts too much to think about his hero falling. How could Kenny have done that? He closes his eyes, before they begin to tear and leans back against the couch, as he thinks about his long time friend and what's going to happen to him.
Margaret patiently waits beside him. She reaches for his hand and squeezes it. "Leo, it's okay. Lets just sit here and enjoy the peace and quiet for a change," she offers, leaning her head on his shoulder.
Leo reopens his eyes, rolls his head towards Margaret and places a gentle kiss into her hair. "Quiet, what's that?" He whispers into her hair, as he wraps an arm around her and pulls her closer to him. He just wants to forget about all his worries this weekend and concentrate on her. There's so much he doesn't know about her. He wants this weekend to be all about her. He hadn't meant to get distant and quiet, it just sorta snuck up on him. He was doing pretty well until he saw someone at the restaurant who reminded him of Kenny. He's going to have to try harder at keeping his troubles at bay.
"I realize that's a foreign word to you, but I hope after this weekend; you get a better understanding of it and some other ones too," she informs him, laying a hand on his chest.
"What other ones?" He asks, sinking further into the couch, pulling her lanky body with him.
"Well, lets see," she coos back at him, checking her mental list. "Relaxing, talking, sleeping, eating..."
"Is there going to be a memo on this?" He softly smirks, with a crooked grin, as he runs his fingers through her hair.
"If you'd like," she puns back, trying to mimic his smirk.
"Oh, I'd like," he mellifluously growls.
"Okay," she grins.
"Well," he grins. "I do have an item I'd like to add to your list," he informs her matter-of-factly.
"Really?" she says in a surprised voice.
"Yeah," he murmurs back, as he slides down even further into the couch, pulling her with him, so that she's now laying next to him.
"What?" She asks, relaxing into his hold.
"Kissing," he whispers, pulling her to him and pressing his lips against hers. He quickly forgets about all of his troubles as he moves a hand into her hair as he deepens the kiss, his tongue lightly teases her lips, until she allows him access. They fervently kiss for several moments until the need for air causes them to part.
"Mmm... I really liked your addition to the list," she whispers.
"Hoped ya would," he says, tracing his fingertips down her jaw line, and then cupping her chin. He gently pulls her to him for another kiss, just as passionate as the first one. He suddenly realizes that he has finally found the one thing his life needs the most, Margaret.
After swapping some more kisses and some gentle caressing, they lay there for a while, just enjoying the moment, continuing to touch and hold on to one another. They both are a little tired from the traveling, but Margaret has something she'd still like to do tonight.
"Is your headache better?" Margaret asks as she sits up.
"Yes, much better," he smiles back to her.
Margaret stands up. "Good, then lets go," she tells him as she curls her finger at him, indicating that he should follow her.
"Where are we off to?" Leo asks, as he stands.
"Well... I've been thinking about the Jacuzzi ever since we got here," she tells him, as she heads for the spiral stairwell. "Do you want to try out your new swim trunks and join me?"
"Sure," Leo says, as his mind goes into overdrive about the thought of Margaret in a swimsuit.
Margaret goes down the stairs and turns on the water to fill up the Jacuzzi. She's quickly back upstairs, and heads to the master bedroom grabs her suit and goes to the extra bedroom. Leo waits until she closes the door then heads for the master bedroom to change into his trunks, leaving his t- shirt on. He's quickly back out in the living room, awaiting Margaret's return. Leo's mouth gapes wide open when he sees Margaret in her swimsuit. It's a one piece, but it shows off her curves. Leo grins as his eyes wander over the suit.
"Leo," she says in a flushed voice, feeling somewhat naked in front of him. "Stop looking at me like that."
"Like what?" He smirks back.
"Like... well... like the way you're looking at me," she blurts out, as her skin turns even redder.
"Margaret, you're... beautiful," he finally manages to say.
"Thank you," she blushes, as she heads for the spiral staircase in the living room that goes to the bottom level of the chalet. She stops on the stairs when she notices that Leo is not following. "Leo?"
"Yeah," he slowly breathes out.
"Well, are you joining me?" She asks.
"Umm... yeah, I'm right behind ya." He says as he finally uproots his feet. She and the way she moved to the stairs have mesmerized him. Her legs go on forever; he thinks to himself.
Margaret is already in the Jacuzzi by the time Leo has made it downstairs. "There's the switch for the jets. If you want them on," she says pointing towards the far wall.
"Yeah, I think that would feel good," Leo says, walking and flipping the switch. He walks back over to the tub at stares at her. Her wet swimsuit is clinging to her body, leaving little to the imagination.
"Leo?" She asks, feeling self-conscious from his scrutiny.
"Yeah," he breathes out.
"You're staring, again." She informs him.
"Sorry. Its... just... well you're so beautiful," he finally stammers out, as he starts to get into the tub.
"Thanks... umm Leo, you might want to take off your t-shirt," she informs him, pointing her wet finger at him.
"Yeah," he blushes as he pulls it off over his head and throws it to the side. He climbs into the Jacuzzi, sitting opposite to Margaret.
They sit in silence for just a few moments, then Leo looks into her eyes and grins inanely. "Margaret, there's so much I don't know about you. I want to learn all I can about you this weekend."
"What do you want to know, Leo?" She smiles back at him.
"Well, I know you're from Ohio, umm... Dayton, right?"
Margaret nods her head.
"And you have a brother?" He continues.
"Two, actually," she corrects him. "They're both older. My parents had me late in life. My brothers own a small business. I use to work for them in the office after school and during the summers."
"So that's where you learned to type so fast," Leo smiles at the image of Margaret long fingers flying across her keyboard. He's always been amazed by how fast she could type. He loves to sit and listen to the rhythmic sounds of her fingers hitting the keys.
"Yeah." She replies, as she starts to think about all the things that lead up to her moving to DC.
"I bet they weren't happy when you left," Leo says. He knows he wouldn't be happy without Margaret. He depends on her for so much. And now he needs her even more.
"No," she shakes her head in agreement. "They really weren't. You see my parents... died in a car accident my sophomore year in high school and after that I lived with my brothers. They weren't very happy that I got a partial scholarship at Georgetown University. They wanted me to stay home, work for them and go to college there.
They eventually talked me into postponing Georgetown for a year, but before I knew that year turned into three. I finally stood up to them and told them a didn't want to be a secretary for the rest of my life, so I packed up my things, and I left."
Margaret's head dips a little at her last comment. She notices a change in Leo's posture. She pauses for a few seconds, but then continues. "I went part time at a local community college, while I was working for my brothers, so I had two years of college completed when I left. But, since I didn't start Georgetown right away, I lost my scholarship, so when I finally moved to DC I could only afford to go to school part time. It took me a while, but I finally got my degree."
When Margaret told Leo that her parents had died, he moved to her side of the Jacuzzi and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. He was surprised to discover that she had a degree from Georgetown. He realizes that it was probably in her records when she came to work for him. She had been a pool secretary at the Labor Department that was assigned to him, after he fired his second or was it his third secretary that year.
Within only a couple of days of Margaret working for Leo, he requested that she be permanently assigned to him. She was the only one who could keep up with him. She quickly learned to foresee his needs. She amazed him back then, and she still does on a daily basis. He had never thought to ask her about her background. But then again, back when she started working for him he was in the dark grasp of alcohol and pills. Her comment about being a 'just secretary' shook him. Of course, she was more than just a secretary. She always has been so much more and now-- she's everything to him.
Leo reaches out and puts a stray piece of hair behind her ear. He wants a better look at her face when he asks this question. "Margaret, why... did you stay with me all these years... you have a degree... you're so intelligent..." Leo tilts his head, giving her half a frown.
Margaret turns her head towards Leo and places a hand on his leg. She was afraid that he would be disturbed by what she had reveled. "It's... complicated..." She drops her eyes.
"I'm listening," Leo patiently says, putting a hand on top of hers.
Margaret raises her eyes to Leo. She's never fully admitted to herself, until recently, why she's stayed all these years. "When I first started working at the Labor Department, I needed a job that would allow me flexibility with school. When I was assigned to you, I'd already been working there for four years, so I had only one quarter of college left. When you offered me the full time position, I needed the money. College had cost a lot more than I had planned, and I had a huge student loan to pay off. So I figured I'd work for you for a couple of years, pay off some bills and then..."
"Okay," Leo squeezes her hand. "That explains why you took the job, but why did you stay?"
Margaret lets out a soft sigh. She was hoping that he would be satisfied with what she had already told him. "I liked working for you."
"Margaret?" He pleads with his voice and his eyes.
"You know at first; you intimidated the Hell out of me." She softly sighs, looking down at their joined hands.
"I figured," he sighs, giving her hand a squeeze. "You were so young, and I was... well... I was drinking pretty heavily then..." He lowers his eyes as he thinks about the demons that were winning back then.
"Leo, it's the past. It's behind us now," she reaches out to touch his face, causing him to look at her. "It's also one of the reasons I stayed," she confesses. It hadn't taken Margaret very long, after she started working for him, to figure out that Leo had a problem with alcohol.
"I suspected that might have been the case," Leo affirms.
"Leo, it's not the only reason. When I came to work for you I was unsettled and I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with my life. I mean I knew I wanted to be involved in politics somehow, but didn't really know where. I figured I could learn a lot from working for you. Then I realized that you..." She stops, unsure of how to continue. Leo's addictions were something that they have never really talked about.
"Margaret, it's okay," he brings her hand to his mouth and gently kisses it, trying to reassure her. "You discovered my addictions."
Margaret nods her head, "I wanted to help you. You were so driven and... troubled. I saw right through your gruffness and well... I was sorta... enamored with you after the first time I met you."
"Really," Leo says in a surprised voice.
"Yeah, between that and me needing to pay bills, I decided to accept your offer. When you went to rehab, I was so proud of you."
"Thank you."
"When you got back, it seemed like time just flew by. And by then, I had developed a pretty strong crush on you and I felt terrible about it," she admits, lowering her eyes.
"Jenny?" He asks.
Margaret bobs her head, "And Mallory. She's always been so sweet to me, treating me just like family."
"She's always loved you. She told me how you looked out for her, especially when I was in rehab." Leo gives Margaret of smile of thanks for all she's done for his daughter over the years.
"I love her too," she returns his smile. "When you announced that you were leaving the Labor Department at the end of the Presidents first term, I thought that maybe it was time to move on. But, then you asked me to go into the private sector with you and I knew I should say no, but I couldn't. Soon, we were waist deep in the Presidential campaign and the next thing I knew I was working twenty feet from the Oval Office. I realized then that no matter what my reason had been for staying, that I had made the right choice."
"Ya know. I couldn't have gotten here without you. I think of all that we've been through, and I know that you're the one who kept me straight. Thank you." He whispers, as he kisses her cheek.
"Yes, you could have. You just wouldn't have been as well organized," she softly laughs.
"I'm not convinced," he tells her. "I would have never made it through the first couple of years without you. You'll never know what it meant to me to have you by my side."
"Yeah, that first year was... difficult. After Jenny left you, I... um... well ... I guess I finally allowed myself to fall all the way in love with you. So... now you know why I've stayed all these years. It's taken me a while to figure it all out, but it's true. I love you, and I stayed because I couldn't imagine you not being in my life, even if I thought I could never have you."
"Well, you've got me now," Leo pulls her into his arms. "So what are ya gonna do with me now?"
"This," she says, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling into an intense kiss that lasts for several seconds.
When they finally break from the kiss, Margaret discovers that she is now straddling Leo's lap. At first, she is a little embarrassed, but Leo doesn't seem to mind. He looks into her eyes and smiles, and then runs his hands up her sides and rest them just beneath her breasts. He looks deep into Margaret eyes. She nods her head, giving Leo permission to go further. He gently rubs his thumbs over her erect nipples. She moans out when he does this. Margaret presses herself further into his lap, rubbing against his arousal. Leo leans his head back and mummers, "Oh Margaret." Then he leans forward, and pulls her head down to him. He presses his lips against hers and pushes his tongue deep into her mouth. They intensely explore each other's mouths for several moments.
They finally break for air, and Leo starts dropping kisses down her neck and collarbone. He moves his mouth further down, and he covers one of her breasts with it. He gently sucks it into his mouth. Even with her swimsuit on, the sensation is unbelievable. She pulls his head tighter against her as she continues to rub herself against his lower region. Their pace really starts to get moving, when Leo suddenly stops his manipulation and pulls back from her.
"Sorry, but I think... we need to stop," he tells her. He really doesn't want to stop. He really wants her right here and right now, but he knows they shouldn't rush things. He loves her, and he wants her to fully understand that before they make love. He doesn't want their first time to be in the Jacuzzi. He wants to be able to take his time and show her how much he loves her. It won't be just sex in the heat of the moment; it will be love that they will eventually make.
"I know," she softly agrees.
"I don't want to, but..." He tries to explain.
"Yeah, I know that too," she whispers as she kisses his cheek.
"I... want you, you know that, right?" He says, hoping that he hasn't hurt her.
"Yes," she says as she slides from his lap, missing the feel of his desire pressed against her core. "I know you do, and I want you too. But, you're right. We don't need to rush this." She gives him a sweet smile and brushes her lips against his.
"I love you," he whispers against her lips.
"I love you too," she returns.
They sit there for a few moments, staring into each other's eyes and allowing their bodies to calm down.
"So, you're really thirty-eight or maybe thirty-nine years old?" He asks, as he tries to get their minds off of other things.
"I'll be forty in summer," she tells him with a puzzled glance, wondering where he's going with this subject.
"Good," he declares.
"Leo!" She says in a high-pitched voice, as she swats his arm.
"I didn't mean it that way. I was only thinking that it sounds much better that you are only seventeen years younger than me instead of the twenty- five years that I thought you were." He reasons, rubbing the spot that she lightly slapped.
"You thought I was only thirty-three?" She smiles.
"Yeah," he sheepishly admits.
"I wish," she laughs.
"I don't. I like you just the way you are." He tells her as he leans in for a sweet kiss. "Lets get out of here and go to bed. I want to hold you in my arms while I sleep tonight." He tells her as he gets out of the Jacuzzi and then turns and offers her a hand.
"I'd like that," she agrees, taking his hand and climbing out.
"Good, lets go." He leads her to the stairs and off the bed.
==========
They spend the next couple of days falling asleep in each others arm, sleeping late, eating out, exploring the area, talking, soaking until the late hours of the evening in the Jacuzzi, spending quiet time in front of the fireplace, and making out like teenagers. They still have yet to make love, but neither one of them seems quite ready yet.
Leo has been on his best behavior concerning work. He only officially checks in with the President and Josh once a day. The other couple of times a day, he thinks he's snuck past her, but Margaret is fully aware of them, but she lets him have his fun, because he more than makes up for in the late evening hours. She's only heard him raise his voice once to Josh about something that he bungled. Most of the time is spent talking with the President, who is drilling Leo for information about their new and personal relationship.
Margaret can't believe how relaxed he's been, she wonders if he'll be able to find a way to relax, once in a while, after they get back to work. It's going to be impossible to find the same quantity of time alone that they've had these last couple of days. But, she'd have to fine a way to get him out of the West Wing every once in a while. Unlike Jenny, she understands and agrees with how he feels about his job. It really is important, to both of them.
==========
Leo wakes up Monday morning, spooned up against Margaret. He grins as he realizes that the past three days hasn't been a dream. He closes his eyes and wraps an arm around her and holds her tight against him. It isn't long before she stirs and turns in his arms.
"Morning," she says, kissing him.
"Morning," he returns.
"I see somebody's already up," she snickers.
Leo ducks his head in slight embarrassment, "Yeah, sorry bout that."
"Leo, I don't mind. As a matter of fact I'm glad I have that kind of affect on you," she softly giggles as she pushes her hips into him.
"You're evil," he quips, trying control himself. He would love to roll over on her right now and make love to her, but he wants to wait until she's ready. They've come close the last couple of days, but he doesn't want to hurt her. He wants her to know how much he loves her and that he wants this relationship, more than anything.
"Yeah, but you love it," she tells him.
"Says who?" He smirks.
"Says me and him," she giggles, pointing to his arousal.
"Him?" He growls. "You better watch it or you might just find out what he really wants." He informs her, laying an arm on her and then playfully swatting her backside.
"Is that a threat?" She asks, rising an eyebrow. She decides that now's the time for them to take their relationship to the next level. She knows that Leo has been holding off, so she decides to push him over the edge.
"No, that's a promise," he growls.
"And you never break promises. Do you?" She says, as she reaches out and toys with the waistband of his boxers.
"Not if I can help it," he mumbles. Her touching him in that area is making him even more excited.
"Good," she says with an evil look in her eye, as she dips her hand inside his boxers and then runs her hand down his length.
Leo flinches at her touch and almost loses control. He's wanted her so much, and now he knows that its time. He runs his hands up underneath her nightshirt and pulls it off over her head. He groans when her hand leaves him. She has ideas of her own, she pushes his boxers down his legs, and he kicks them away. His mouth finds one breast and then the other, giving them both equal time.
Leo runs a hand down her back and inside her panties. He pulls her tight against himself. His mouth makes its way back up to hers. The tongues duel for several moments. Leo pushes down her panties and looks into her eyes. She nods her head, and he moves on top. When he crosses her threshold, he stops for a second, "I love you," he mumbles. He can't believe how good she feels and how good she makes him feel inside, too.
"I love you too," she says as she raises her hips to meet him. She has never had anyone cause so many wonderful and intense sensations with just one stroke.
Leo slowly begins his motions again, and they became one. He leans down and presses his lips on hers, whispering more words of love into her mouth. She responds in kind with her own words. They continue to enjoy themselves for several minutes, then Leo's motions become stronger and faster until they are both ready.
"I love you," he tells her as he takes them crashing over the top, both of them moaning the other one's name. He collapses on her and they stay that way for a few minutes, each trying to catch their breath. He finally rolls off her and she moans from the lost of his body.
"Oh Leo that was... I mean I've never..." she grasps, trying to explain the emotions running though her body.
"I know, me too," he tells her, as he pulls her into his arms and holds her tight. They lie there for a while, then Leo raises up on one elbow, "Margaret, marry me?" Leo asks as he stares intently into Margaret's brilliant blue eyes.
"Yes," she answers with no hesitation. "Yes, Leo. I'll marry you." She tells him again as she wraps her arms around his neck and hugs him.
"Margaret, I don't want to wait. I want to marry you today." He breathes into her neck, and then pulls from her hug to explain. "I've given this a lot of thought since Saturday, and I don't want to waste anymore time. I don't want to be away from you ever again. Margaret I love you and want you by my side forever."
"Oh Leo, yes I'll marry today. I never want to be away from you either, I was thinking this morning when I woke up how I much I was going to miss waking up in your arms in the morning," she says, pulling him back down to her and assaulting his neck with kisses.
"Margaret, if you keep that up, we're never going to get out of bed this morning," he manages to get out.
"I wouldn't be opposed to that idea," she giggles as she continues to drive him crazy with her mouth and hands.
"I thought we were going to get married today," he smirks, as she rolls him over and winds up on top of him.
"There's always this afternoon," she tells him, as she makes her way down his body dropping kisses as she goes.
"I can live with that," he agrees as he watches her. "Oh... oh Margaret," are the last coherent words he says as she devours him.
==========
They spend the rest of the morning enjoying themselves in bed and several other places in the chalet. They finally leave around one o'clock in the afternoon. They head off for the license bureau to get their marriage license. They hit a small snag after they get there, Leo needs his divorce papers to prove he's divorced. He calls his lawyers office, and they promise to send a fax right away. Leo closes the phone and slips it into his pocket and frowns.
"Leo, its nothing to worry about. It will be here soon," she tells him as he walks back over to her and takes a seat next to her.
"I know, it's just... you know how I hate to wait," he tells her as he takes her hand in his.
"True, but aren't I worth the wait?" She asks in a soft voice.
"Yes, Yes you are. But, you have no idea how long I've waited already." He confesses, squeezing her hand.
"Oh and just how long is that Mr. McGarry?" Her curiosity is rising by the second.
"Can we talk about this later?" He whines, as he glances around the crowded waiting room.
"We could, but I'm impatient just like you are. So spill," she tells him as she plays with the crease of his pants leg.
"Well first of all," Leo whispers, not wanting the rest of the room to overhear their conversation. "I've always thought you were something special... from the first day I met you." Leo inanely smiles as he thinks back and remembers the image of a young tall lanky red hair rushing into his office, on her first day as a temp for him, and telling him the President's office was on the phone and asking him if he wanted to take the call.
The rest of the day went the same way, he would get a call and she would come and tell him. By the end of the day, Leo curiosity's was peaked. He went out to the outer office to ask Margaret if she knew that there was an intercom and if so why she didn't use it. She had told him that she thought they were far too impersonal and that her hearing worked fine, so if he needed her-- all he had to do was call her name.
"Really," she replies in a surprised voice. "I thought you thought I was strange. It was really surprised when you asked me to stay on to be your secretary," she admits, giving him a delicate smile.
"Nah, maybe a little quirky," he softly laughs. "But never strange. You just march to the beat of a different drummer." Leo turns a little more serious. "It's something that I have always loved about you." Leo pauses; there are so many things about her that he loves. He loves to hear her high- heels clicking across his office floor. He loves it when she gives him that squinty eye look when he gets caught trying to pull one over on her. He loves how she doesn't back down from him and is always honest with him. He loves it when they are shoulder to shoulder hovering over his desk working on something. He loves that she's so protective of him and how she takes care of him. He loves her red hair and her fiery personally. He loves her so much for so many different reasons, but mostly he loves her for being her.
Margaret patiently stares at Leo. He seems lost in thought. When a vast smile crosses his face she asks, "Okay, so when?"
"Margaret do you remember that night I called you in the middle of the night, after... Mrs. Landingham was killed?" Leo's voice catches as he remembers that terrible night.
"Yes," she answers getting a sad look in her eye at the mention of her friend's death.
"I... called that night... because I dreamed that you too had been killed in a car wreck and..." Leo pauses, trying to gather himself. He doesn't want to break down in a room full of strangers.
"Oh Leo," Margaret breathes out as she takes his hand. She can see an unshed tear in his eye.
"When I woke up in a sweat and I couldn't convince myself that it wasn't real... I had to call you. I just needed to hear your voice. After I hung up, I couldn't get back to sleep, I just kept thinking, What if it had been you?" That's when it hit me, I had feelings for you." The tear in Leo's eye finally makes its way down his face.
"That night you called. I knew you were upset about something. But, all you would say was that you were fine and not to worry. I got in my car and drove over to your hotel, but I chickened out and didn't go to your room. I just sat in my car all night watching your window," she says, reaching out to wipe the tear off Leo's face.
"You did?"
"Yeah, aren't we a pair," she says shaking her head.
"Yeah, yeah we really are," Leo smiles.
"Leo that was over three years ago," she says, quickly adding up the dates in her head.
"Yeah, I guess it was," nodding his head slowly.
"Why didn't you ever say anything?"
"Well, first off there's that age thing we talked abut the other night, remember I thought I was twenty-five years older than you. Plus I never dreamed that you could ever love me too," he admits.
"Leo, I was so sure that I had given myself away to you so many times over the years, and I was so sure you would fire me if you ever found out that I loved you. I thought you would think I was a silly young thing with a crush, but it's always been so much more than that."
"Boy we really are a pair," Leo says, shaking his head.
"I guess," she bobs her head.
"We've both waited a long time," he says, rubbing the knuckles on her hand.
"Right, so waiting a few more minutes isn't going to matter. Plus, while you were on the phone with your lawyer I got to thinking that an evening wedding with candlelight would be so romantic."
"Mr. McGarry," the young man from behind the counter interrupts Leo's reply. "Your fax is here." Margaret and Leo get up and walk over to the counter. "If you'll just fill out these forms." He informs them, sliding the papers to them. "You'll be out of here in a matter of minutes."
Margaret smiles as Leo picks up one with a shaky hand. "Little nervous there?" She teases.
"Ye...ah," his voice cracks.
"And here I thought I'd be the nervous one on my wedding day." She giggles, taking his free hand and leading him back to their chairs. "Do you want me to fill that out for you," pointing at the paper work in his hand. "I know all your information."
"Nah," he responds, pulling a pen from his suit coat. "I can do it myself." He says, flashing her a crooked grin.
"Well, if you need any help, let me know," she tells him, patting his leg.
Leo takes a hold of her hand, pulls it to him and kisses it then softly mutters, "I might need your assistance later tonight."
"Leo," she flushes.
"What?" He smirks back, trying to look innocent. "You are my assistant aren't you?"
"Yes, and I'll always be willing to lend you a hand." She whispers back, trying to regain the upper hand in the conversation.
"Well, I'm hoping for more than just your hand," he mumbles, releasing her hand as he starts to fill out the form in his lap.
"How am I supposed to concentrate now?" She asks him, playfully giving him a swat on the arm.
"Hey," he laughs back.
Margaret just marvels at the site of a laughing and playful Leo. She's always suspected that he was in there somewhere, buried deep inside. She has occasionally witnessed glimpses of him before, but mostly around Mallory. But, these past few days, he's been more like the man she always dreamed he was.
Margaret and Leo finally settle down and fill out their paper work. The leave soon afterward with their marriage license in hand. They then head off to a little chapel on one of the side roads. Chapel in the Valley is where they decide to pledge their life and love to one another. They make all the necessary arrangements for the ceremony, choosing a seven-thirty wedding time. As they are leaving the chapel, Leo pulls her close to him.
"Margaret," he breathes into her ear. "I love you. You make me so happy."
"I feel the same way too, Leo," she tells him, leaning into his hug. "Do you think the Republicans will be able to handle a happy Leo McGarry?" She giggles into his neck.
"Don't know, don't care." He informs her, pulling her into an earth-shaking kiss on the streets of Gatlinburg.
"Mmm... me either," she agrees, moving her body tightly against his. She can feel his desire pressing insistently against her thigh. "Do we need to head back to the chalet to relieve some of the pressure that's built up since this morning?"
"Maybe, but I thought you might like to go shopping for a wedding dress. I picked up a flyer in the chapel's office. The have a couple little shops here in town," he informs her between the soft kisses that he's dropping on her neck and shoulder.
"Leo, I wonder if there's a tux rental place here? I just love you in a tux." She pulls from his tight hold. "Lets go shopping and then head back to the chalet."
"Okay, both of the shops are within walking distance from here," he tells her, taking a hold of her hand. Leo gives an impish grin. He's been plotting behind her back. He called Mallory yesterday morning, while Margaret was in the shower, and told her of his intentions. She was so happy for them. He asked if she minded not being there, and she told him that it was fine. She told him that she was so happy that he'd finally woken up and saw what was right there in front of him. Leo asked her to go to his hotel and get his new tux and ship it overnight it to the Chalet Rental office. It should be there by now, he hopes.
"You going to be able to walk in your condition, Leo?" She smirks.
"Yeah, but walk in front of me for a while. Will ya?" He explains, guiding her in front of him.
"Okay, just tell me which way to turn up here," she says, pointing at the intersection.
They make their way to the closest bridal shop. Thankfully, Leo has calmed down by the time they get there. Margaret quickly finds several dresses to try on. Leo takes a seat and thoroughly enjoys the modeling show that Margaret puts on for him. Margaret chooses a very simple ivory a-line dress that shows off her shoulders.
"I never really pictured myself in a fancy wedding grown," she reveals, twirling around in front of Leo.
"Oh Margaret... it's beautiful... I mean you're beautiful in it... well I mean you're always beautiful, but that dress... I love it," he stammers out, and then turns to the bridal consultant. "We'll take it."
"Leo," she shrieks, as she looks at the price tag. "Its seven hundred dollars. I wouldn't have even tried it on, if I had looked at the price tag correctly. I thought the seven was a fancy one, I must have looked at it upside down," she blushes.
"I don't care, Margaret," he informs her, moving to her side and kissing her cheek. "It's perfect." He moves in closer to her and whispers into her ear, "and it's the only one I want to help you out of tonight." Causing her to blush even more.
"Leo, you say the sweetest things," she whispers back, returning his kiss.
"Yeah, but lets not let that get around. It'll ruin my image," he whispers back.
"Okay, your secret's safe with me," she agrees. "Now lets find a tux for you."
"Ah about the tux... I have a confession to make." Leo pauses as he flashes her a playful grin. "I sorta had my new one overnighted here."
"When did you do that?" She asks. Surprised that he was able to sneak something past her.
"Yesterday morning, when you were in the shower," he boasts, having finally snuck something past her.
"Who'd you call?" Her mind races ask she tries to figure out who he called and what he told them.
"Mallory," he sheepishly admits.
"She knows?" She softly asks, as glints of worry wash across her face.
Leo nods his head. "Don't worry about it. She was so happy for us." He takes her hand and squeezes it. "She told me it was about time and that she knew that you had been in love with me for a long time."
"She did," Margaret gasps. "Does she hate me?" She asks in a panicked voice, not really thinking about what Leo had just said.
"Margaret, Mallory loves you and wants us to be together." Leo pulls back from her and stares into her eyes, trying to get her to listen to what he's saying.
"She does?"
"Yes Baby, she does." He reaches up and gently strokes her face.
"Leo?" Leaning into his hand, which is lovingly holding her face.
"Yeah?"
"You called me Baby,"
"Yeah... I guess I did. Do you mind?"
"No, I love it," she says as she wraps her slender arms around him and pulls him in for a kiss. After a few moments she pulls back slightly from his arms, allowing her hands to drop to his chest. "Leo, I'm getting married tonight!" She happily informs him.
"Really, what a coincidence, I am too!" He softly chuckles, as he puts a hand to the middle of her back and guides her towards the dressing rooms. "Baby, we need to get going. We need to go get some wedding rings."
"Rings, oh my God Leo. I never even thought about that," she tells him as she hurries off towards the rooms.
"And you call yourself my assistant," Leo smirks.
Margaret stops, turns and shots him an evil grin, "Keep that up Mr. McGarry and I won't be assisting you with anything later tonight," she smirks.
"Well, Miss McGuire, as usual you are right and I beg your forgiveness," he says, bowing to her.
"That's more like it," she laughs as she disappears into the dressing room.
Leo is still laughing and shaking his head when he heads for the counter to pay for the dress. He can't remember the last time he's had such a fun day. Margaret is soon by his side, rubbing the small of his back. "Thank you Leo, I love the dress," bending over and kissing him on the cheek. "But, I still say you spend too much money." She snickers into his ear.
"You're welcome and it's worth every penny," he tells her, signing the receipt, then grabbing the dress and handing it over to her. "We need to get a move on; we have to drive to Knoxville to get the rings."
"Leo, isn't there a jewelry store here in town?"
"Yeah, there is, but it doesn't carry what I want. I called stores this morning when you were in the shower." He informs her, grabbing her hand and pulling her from the store.
"Okay, that's it. No more phone calls when I'm in the shower. I'm going to start taking your cell in there with me. I'm missing out on all the best conversations," she laughs.
"Margaret, I wouldn't worry about it. I don't think you're gonna be showering by yourself any time soon."
==========
Leo and Margaret finally make it back to the chalet around four o'clock in the afternoon. They lay side by side in the master bedroom, tired from their hectic day, trying to take a well-deserved nap. They want to be well rested for their wedding night.
"You're never going to get to sleep if you keep staring at that," Leo rubs his thumb over the brilliant stone that now resides on her ring finger on her left hand.
"I know. I just can't help it." She still can't believe she let Leo talk her into such an expensive engagement ring. "Its so pretty."
"Just like you," Leo points out, as he places a soft kiss on her nose.
"Are you trying to get lucky?" She giggles.
"Maybe," he smirks, taking her deeper into his arms. "Is it working?"
"Is what working?" She runs her hand down his back.
"My plan," he whispers into her ear as he starts to drop kisses down her neck.
"What plan," she breathes out, trying very hard to conceal the excitement in her voice.
"It's not working. Is it?" He asks, as he runs his hand inside her shirt.
"Not so much," she lies.
"Okay," he pouts, as he stops kissing her neck, removes his hand and flips over in bed.
"Hey, get back over here." She laughs, as she playfully slaps his backside. "I was kidding."
"Me too," he says as he quickly flips back over and quickly moves on top of her, grabbing her hands and pinning her to the bed. "You give?"
"Maybe," she pauses, relaxing under him. "Leo, is this... real?"
"You and me?" He asks, releasing her hands, sliding off of her and settling by her side.
"Yeah," she blushes, lowering her head.
"Yeah, Baby," he reaches over and tilts her chin towards him. "We're real. I love you and we're getting married tonight that is if you still want to. It's okay if you want to wait."
"I don't want to wait," Margaret shakes her head. "I want to get married tonight. I guess... its... just I can't believe its really happening. I keep thinking I'm going to wake up, and it's all going to be a dream."
"Its not a dream. It might have been a whirlwind, but it's not a dream." Leo kisses her forehead and pulls her close.
"Leo?" She asks, pulling from his arms.
"Yeah, Baby."
"Do you think this..." she motions between them, "will hurt you or the President?"
"I don't care, and neither does the President," Leo rises up on an elbow, reaches out and runs his hand down her arm.
"How do you know he doesn't?" A panicked Margaret sits up in bed. "You called him, didn't you?" She accuses.
"Yeah, I did. Ya know, he is my best friend." Leo informs her.
"When?" She asks in a high-pitched voice.
"Last night, after you went to sleep. I called him and told him my plans. Well not everything that I was planning on doing, just the asking you part." Leo lies back down on the bed and pulls Margaret down with him.
"What did he say?"
"I won't go into all the details, but lets just say that he's very happy for us. I had to really fight him about coming down here and attending the wedding. Can ya imagine what a circus that would have been?"
"Leo, should we wait and get married in DC, so that the President, First Lady, Mallory and the rest can come, too."
"Nah, I went to get married here, with you and without the hoopla. Is that okay with you?" He asks, running a hand down her hip.
"Very okay with me." She gives him a quick kiss. "Mallory doesn't mind missing your wedding?"
"Its our wedding and she was fine with it. As a matter of fact, she and Abbey have gotten together and are planning a huge reception for us in a couple of weeks." Leo waits for this to sink in.
"Really," she squeaks, her voice showing a little bit of excitement. "When did all this happen?"
"Abbey called while you were trying on wedding gowns. You know, that's what you get for trying on so many different dresses." Leo smirks.
"Am I going have to take your cell phone away from you?" She reaches over and tries to get in his pants pocket.
"Nah, you know all my secrets now." He grabs her hand and pulls it to him.
"All of them?" She raises an eyebrow at him.
"Maybe," he laughs, as he kisses her hand.
"So, you've got it all planned?" She asks, moving her hips against him.
"Yeah, so lets forget about everything else. We have your dress, my tux arrived, we have the rings, the whole wedding is already planned and we have our license. So lets just relax. And as someone told me a couple nights ago, enjoy the peace and quiet. Because after tonight, you're going to be Mrs. Leo McGarry and you're going to have your hands full."
"I can't wait," she breathes into his neck as she snuggles deeper into his hold.
"Me either," he replies, enjoying the feel of her body pressed against his.
==========
The wedding goes without a hitch. The flowers are beautiful and abundant in the candle lit chapel. The service is with traditional vows and rings being exchanged. Several photos are taken during and after ceremony. Leo had promised the President lots of pictures. They leave the small chapel in a shower of rice and ride in a horse drawl carriage, that Leo surprised Margaret with, to the restaurant. After a very nice dinner, they are whisked back to their chalet in a limo.
==========
Leo unlocks the door to the chalet and then turns to Margaret starts to pick her up.
"Leo, don't. You'll hurt yourself."
"Margaret, you worry too much." Leo tells her as he tries to pick her up again.
"Leo, I don't want you hurting your back on our wedding night or pulling my favorite muscle." She informs him, as she pulls him into her arms and kisses him firmly on the lips. A kiss that puts all other kisses to shame.
"Okay," a dazed Leo and very happily relents as Margaret pulls from his arms and warps an arm around his waist and they walk though the door together.
They stand in the entry way for a while trading a few romantic kisses. Margaret wants to change into something more comfortable, and Leo decides to build a romantic fire. As promised earlier in the day, he unzips her wedding dress and presses a kiss to her bare shoulder as it's exposed. He watches her walk away with the dress opened, sucking in a breath filled with passion.
He puts some pillows and a blanket on the floor for them to relax against.
When Margaret walks into their room, she finds a beautifully wrapped package on the bed. She walks over and opens in and finds a beautiful lacy negligee in just her size. She opens the card, and it is from her wonderful new husband.
Baby,
I saw this today, and I couldn't resist seeing you in it. I can't wait for tonight, our wedding night.
All my love,
Leo
Margaret wipes the happy tears from her face as she picks up the long pale green nightgown from the box. She changes into it and sprays on a lightly scented perfume before she makes her way back out to the living room. She steps out and sees Leo standing next to the fireplace lost in thought, wearing the tux pants and dress shirt with the jacket discarded and the tie hanging loose around his neck. Soft music is playing in the background.
"Leo?"
Leo looks up and sees his beautiful wife standing before him in her pale green negligee. It takes his breath away to see her standing there, waiting for him, as they start their lives together. He takes her in his arms as the instrumental arrangement of "Isn't It Romantic" comes on the CD player. As they sway to the music, they look deeply into each other's eyes, smiling shyly, brushing gentle kisses on each other's lips, faces and necks as their hands slowly touch and explore.
Leo moves in to kiss her lips, gently brushing them before leaning in for more. She opens her lips and invites his tongue to explore her mouth more completely. They both moan as they hungrily explore each other, barely moving in time to the music. Her arms move up to wrap around his neck, and his arms surround her waist, pulling her closer. They make their way over to the inviting fireplace and sink down onto the pillows that he's prepared.
Margaret's hand reaches up to pull off his black tie as then both hands start to unbutton his dress shirt, placing more kisses on his chest as his skin is exposed. She pulls his shirttail from his pants so that she can more fully explore his chest.
Leo reaches up to slip the spaghetti strap off her shoulder and kisses her neck and collarbone. Moving down toward her breast, his butterfly kisses arouse her even more.
Margaret pulls him down on top of her. She moans softly as she feels his arousal pressing against her. She moves her knee to press gently into him causing him moan, "Oh, Margaret."
She smiles as they roll onto their sides facing one another as her hand slides down to gently caress him through his pants. Her fingers slip inside the waistband of his pants to undo the fastener and the zipper. His navy silk boxers are sticking up through the zipper. She looks down and smiles in surprise, finding the boxers she always fantasized seeing him in.
With a smile, her finger sliding from star to star, the small white stars shimmer with spontaneous movement. "Oh look Sweetie, it's the Little Dipper."
Leo's face falls, and he mumbles with a pout, "The Little Dipper? Don't you mean the Big Dipper?"
When Margaret sees the look on his face she knows she touched on any man's sore spot and leans forward to kiss his pouty lips and caress the side of his face, "Of course I meant the Big Dipper," she says seductively as her fingers brush him, making him shiver in anticipation. "Are you ready?"
"Oh yeah, I think I am," he says as he pushes her onto her back. She looks so beautiful in the firelight. The light is dancing off her pale skin and fiery red hair. The blushed skin of her excitement is such a turn on. He slides her nightgown off her and slips out of the rest of his clothing.
They make slow passionate love for the first time as husband and wife in front of that wonderful fire.
==========
After recovering from their lovemaking, they spend some time cuddling on the couch, in front of a roaring fire, talking about their wedding, the past few days, and making some plans for their future.
"Margaret, when we get back. I want you to find us a place to live." He informs his bride, as he leans over and kisses her cheek.
"I've been thinking about that. I think a condo or townhouse, instead of a house. I know we've not really talked about it, but we don't know where we'll be or what we'll be doing after the White House," she reasons, as she takes a hold of his hand.
"To tell ya the truth, I haven't even looked past the White House for a long time, because I never had reason to until now. I'm not sure what I'll do after the White House, all I care about is that I'm with you," he tells her as he kisses her hand.
"I guess I figured you take some time off, at least one or two days," she snickers. "And then go out on the lecture circuit for a while or maybe even teach Poly Sci at some university."
"Me... teach?" Leo points at himself. "You've got the wrong person, Mallory's the teacher."
"I think you'd make a great teacher. Where do you think Mallory got it from, anyway?"
"I don't know. I'm not sure I could handle teaching kids," Leo says, giving it some serious thought.
"Leo, what do you think you've been doing these past five years?"
"True. But, sometimes it seems more like I'm the principal, though."
"Leo, we don't have to decide anything tonight. Besides, if you wanted, you'd never have to work again anyway."
"Margaret, have you been reading the disclosure reports again?" He smirks, turning and pulling her into his arms.
"Maybe. I just wanted to see if the man that I've spent the past few years daydreaming about, would be able to keep me in the manner that I've become custom to," she laughs, nuzzling her face against his neck.
"And, do I meet your standards?" He breathes into her ear.
"You exceed them in more ways than one."
"Good to know," he smirks. "Lets go get more comfortable, Mrs. McGarry," he tells her in his gravelly voice.
"I'm all for that, Mr. McGarry" as she slowly pulls from his arms and gets up from the couch wearing his shirt just as she had a few short days before. Margaret reaches back for Leo's hand and pulls him off the couch. They walk arm in arm off to the bedroom to begin their life together as a married couple, with her no longer regretting getting caught up in his shirttail.
The End.
By: adoreleo
Rating: Strong R - Contains some language, sexual innuendo and situations.
Characters: Leo, Margaret, Jed and Josh
Spoilers: Anything up to and including An Kne.
Disclaimer: The characters are from the NBC, WB, TV show The West Wing; they do not belong to me.
Beta & Additional Ideas By: Lynn, who always goes above and beyond the call. THANKS!!!!
Author's Notes: Lynn wrote the fireplace scene at the end of this story. Thanks Lynn!!!
Feedback: I would love it hear your opinion! Suggestions are welcome too!
Summary: Leo receives some disturbing news and it causes him to confront some old demons with a little help from his friends.
Part 3:
It's around eight o'clock when they get back from dinner. Leo unlocks the door to the chalet and ushers Margaret though it. Leo heads for the couch and sits down slowly, rubbing his temples. He's been really quiet during the ride back to the chalet.
Margaret watches him for a few seconds, and then walks next to the couch and stands there, watching him. "Leo, are you okay?"
"Yeah... I'm fine," rolls off his lips before he even thinks about it. It's been his standard, automatic answer these past few years.
"Leo?" Margaret questions with a raised eyebrow. She has always been able to see right through him.
"Uh huh," he replies, continuing to rubs his eyes.
"Does your head hurt?" She asks, moving to the back of the couch. Reaching down, she starts to massage his shoulders.
"Yeah... a little," he relents, leaning his head back on the couch and looking up at her. He closes his eyes as she continues to rub his shoulders and neck. "Mmm... that feels so good."
Margaret bends over and kisses his brow. She's been wondering what happened to him tonight. When left had left for the restaurant, he was in a good mood, playful even, and it had continued through most of meal. But, after they ordered dessert and coffee, he became very quiet and he had spent the entire ride back up the mountain in silence, too.
"Leo, what... happened tonight at dinner?" She hesitantly asks, as she continues to massage his neck and shoulders. She knows he's still bothered by the events of the last few days, but his mood had changed so quickly.
"What'd ya mean?" He replies, trying to postpone the inevitable. He knows that Margaret's not going to let him off the hook that easily.
"I... was just wondering... why you got so quiet before dessert came? Did I say something to upset you?" She softly asks with an apprehensive tone and a worried glance.
"No," Leo sighs, while reaching up to touch her face. "You didn't do or say anything wrong."
"Okay," she answers, covering his hand with hers, then entwining her fingers with his. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"Nah... not really... but I will," he surrenders, motioning for her to come sit down next to him.
Margaret releases his hand, walks around and sits down next to him. She lays a hand on his lap, then turns to look at him. "Leo... it's just..." She glances down at her resting on his leg.
"You worry," Leo halfheartedly smirks.
"Yeah, that too," she faintly confides, as she plays with the crease in his pant leg. "I... I just hate to see you like this." She casts her eyes downward and stares at her hands.
"Margaret, really, I'm fine," he says, reaching over and tipping her chin back up towards him. "It's just... well I was just thinking about Kenny and ...." Leo breathes a heavy sigh, while releasing her chin. He can't continue. It still hurts too much to think about his hero falling. How could Kenny have done that? He closes his eyes, before they begin to tear and leans back against the couch, as he thinks about his long time friend and what's going to happen to him.
Margaret patiently waits beside him. She reaches for his hand and squeezes it. "Leo, it's okay. Lets just sit here and enjoy the peace and quiet for a change," she offers, leaning her head on his shoulder.
Leo reopens his eyes, rolls his head towards Margaret and places a gentle kiss into her hair. "Quiet, what's that?" He whispers into her hair, as he wraps an arm around her and pulls her closer to him. He just wants to forget about all his worries this weekend and concentrate on her. There's so much he doesn't know about her. He wants this weekend to be all about her. He hadn't meant to get distant and quiet, it just sorta snuck up on him. He was doing pretty well until he saw someone at the restaurant who reminded him of Kenny. He's going to have to try harder at keeping his troubles at bay.
"I realize that's a foreign word to you, but I hope after this weekend; you get a better understanding of it and some other ones too," she informs him, laying a hand on his chest.
"What other ones?" He asks, sinking further into the couch, pulling her lanky body with him.
"Well, lets see," she coos back at him, checking her mental list. "Relaxing, talking, sleeping, eating..."
"Is there going to be a memo on this?" He softly smirks, with a crooked grin, as he runs his fingers through her hair.
"If you'd like," she puns back, trying to mimic his smirk.
"Oh, I'd like," he mellifluously growls.
"Okay," she grins.
"Well," he grins. "I do have an item I'd like to add to your list," he informs her matter-of-factly.
"Really?" she says in a surprised voice.
"Yeah," he murmurs back, as he slides down even further into the couch, pulling her with him, so that she's now laying next to him.
"What?" She asks, relaxing into his hold.
"Kissing," he whispers, pulling her to him and pressing his lips against hers. He quickly forgets about all of his troubles as he moves a hand into her hair as he deepens the kiss, his tongue lightly teases her lips, until she allows him access. They fervently kiss for several moments until the need for air causes them to part.
"Mmm... I really liked your addition to the list," she whispers.
"Hoped ya would," he says, tracing his fingertips down her jaw line, and then cupping her chin. He gently pulls her to him for another kiss, just as passionate as the first one. He suddenly realizes that he has finally found the one thing his life needs the most, Margaret.
After swapping some more kisses and some gentle caressing, they lay there for a while, just enjoying the moment, continuing to touch and hold on to one another. They both are a little tired from the traveling, but Margaret has something she'd still like to do tonight.
"Is your headache better?" Margaret asks as she sits up.
"Yes, much better," he smiles back to her.
Margaret stands up. "Good, then lets go," she tells him as she curls her finger at him, indicating that he should follow her.
"Where are we off to?" Leo asks, as he stands.
"Well... I've been thinking about the Jacuzzi ever since we got here," she tells him, as she heads for the spiral stairwell. "Do you want to try out your new swim trunks and join me?"
"Sure," Leo says, as his mind goes into overdrive about the thought of Margaret in a swimsuit.
Margaret goes down the stairs and turns on the water to fill up the Jacuzzi. She's quickly back upstairs, and heads to the master bedroom grabs her suit and goes to the extra bedroom. Leo waits until she closes the door then heads for the master bedroom to change into his trunks, leaving his t- shirt on. He's quickly back out in the living room, awaiting Margaret's return. Leo's mouth gapes wide open when he sees Margaret in her swimsuit. It's a one piece, but it shows off her curves. Leo grins as his eyes wander over the suit.
"Leo," she says in a flushed voice, feeling somewhat naked in front of him. "Stop looking at me like that."
"Like what?" He smirks back.
"Like... well... like the way you're looking at me," she blurts out, as her skin turns even redder.
"Margaret, you're... beautiful," he finally manages to say.
"Thank you," she blushes, as she heads for the spiral staircase in the living room that goes to the bottom level of the chalet. She stops on the stairs when she notices that Leo is not following. "Leo?"
"Yeah," he slowly breathes out.
"Well, are you joining me?" She asks.
"Umm... yeah, I'm right behind ya." He says as he finally uproots his feet. She and the way she moved to the stairs have mesmerized him. Her legs go on forever; he thinks to himself.
Margaret is already in the Jacuzzi by the time Leo has made it downstairs. "There's the switch for the jets. If you want them on," she says pointing towards the far wall.
"Yeah, I think that would feel good," Leo says, walking and flipping the switch. He walks back over to the tub at stares at her. Her wet swimsuit is clinging to her body, leaving little to the imagination.
"Leo?" She asks, feeling self-conscious from his scrutiny.
"Yeah," he breathes out.
"You're staring, again." She informs him.
"Sorry. Its... just... well you're so beautiful," he finally stammers out, as he starts to get into the tub.
"Thanks... umm Leo, you might want to take off your t-shirt," she informs him, pointing her wet finger at him.
"Yeah," he blushes as he pulls it off over his head and throws it to the side. He climbs into the Jacuzzi, sitting opposite to Margaret.
They sit in silence for just a few moments, then Leo looks into her eyes and grins inanely. "Margaret, there's so much I don't know about you. I want to learn all I can about you this weekend."
"What do you want to know, Leo?" She smiles back at him.
"Well, I know you're from Ohio, umm... Dayton, right?"
Margaret nods her head.
"And you have a brother?" He continues.
"Two, actually," she corrects him. "They're both older. My parents had me late in life. My brothers own a small business. I use to work for them in the office after school and during the summers."
"So that's where you learned to type so fast," Leo smiles at the image of Margaret long fingers flying across her keyboard. He's always been amazed by how fast she could type. He loves to sit and listen to the rhythmic sounds of her fingers hitting the keys.
"Yeah." She replies, as she starts to think about all the things that lead up to her moving to DC.
"I bet they weren't happy when you left," Leo says. He knows he wouldn't be happy without Margaret. He depends on her for so much. And now he needs her even more.
"No," she shakes her head in agreement. "They really weren't. You see my parents... died in a car accident my sophomore year in high school and after that I lived with my brothers. They weren't very happy that I got a partial scholarship at Georgetown University. They wanted me to stay home, work for them and go to college there.
They eventually talked me into postponing Georgetown for a year, but before I knew that year turned into three. I finally stood up to them and told them a didn't want to be a secretary for the rest of my life, so I packed up my things, and I left."
Margaret's head dips a little at her last comment. She notices a change in Leo's posture. She pauses for a few seconds, but then continues. "I went part time at a local community college, while I was working for my brothers, so I had two years of college completed when I left. But, since I didn't start Georgetown right away, I lost my scholarship, so when I finally moved to DC I could only afford to go to school part time. It took me a while, but I finally got my degree."
When Margaret told Leo that her parents had died, he moved to her side of the Jacuzzi and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. He was surprised to discover that she had a degree from Georgetown. He realizes that it was probably in her records when she came to work for him. She had been a pool secretary at the Labor Department that was assigned to him, after he fired his second or was it his third secretary that year.
Within only a couple of days of Margaret working for Leo, he requested that she be permanently assigned to him. She was the only one who could keep up with him. She quickly learned to foresee his needs. She amazed him back then, and she still does on a daily basis. He had never thought to ask her about her background. But then again, back when she started working for him he was in the dark grasp of alcohol and pills. Her comment about being a 'just secretary' shook him. Of course, she was more than just a secretary. She always has been so much more and now-- she's everything to him.
Leo reaches out and puts a stray piece of hair behind her ear. He wants a better look at her face when he asks this question. "Margaret, why... did you stay with me all these years... you have a degree... you're so intelligent..." Leo tilts his head, giving her half a frown.
Margaret turns her head towards Leo and places a hand on his leg. She was afraid that he would be disturbed by what she had reveled. "It's... complicated..." She drops her eyes.
"I'm listening," Leo patiently says, putting a hand on top of hers.
Margaret raises her eyes to Leo. She's never fully admitted to herself, until recently, why she's stayed all these years. "When I first started working at the Labor Department, I needed a job that would allow me flexibility with school. When I was assigned to you, I'd already been working there for four years, so I had only one quarter of college left. When you offered me the full time position, I needed the money. College had cost a lot more than I had planned, and I had a huge student loan to pay off. So I figured I'd work for you for a couple of years, pay off some bills and then..."
"Okay," Leo squeezes her hand. "That explains why you took the job, but why did you stay?"
Margaret lets out a soft sigh. She was hoping that he would be satisfied with what she had already told him. "I liked working for you."
"Margaret?" He pleads with his voice and his eyes.
"You know at first; you intimidated the Hell out of me." She softly sighs, looking down at their joined hands.
"I figured," he sighs, giving her hand a squeeze. "You were so young, and I was... well... I was drinking pretty heavily then..." He lowers his eyes as he thinks about the demons that were winning back then.
"Leo, it's the past. It's behind us now," she reaches out to touch his face, causing him to look at her. "It's also one of the reasons I stayed," she confesses. It hadn't taken Margaret very long, after she started working for him, to figure out that Leo had a problem with alcohol.
"I suspected that might have been the case," Leo affirms.
"Leo, it's not the only reason. When I came to work for you I was unsettled and I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with my life. I mean I knew I wanted to be involved in politics somehow, but didn't really know where. I figured I could learn a lot from working for you. Then I realized that you..." She stops, unsure of how to continue. Leo's addictions were something that they have never really talked about.
"Margaret, it's okay," he brings her hand to his mouth and gently kisses it, trying to reassure her. "You discovered my addictions."
Margaret nods her head, "I wanted to help you. You were so driven and... troubled. I saw right through your gruffness and well... I was sorta... enamored with you after the first time I met you."
"Really," Leo says in a surprised voice.
"Yeah, between that and me needing to pay bills, I decided to accept your offer. When you went to rehab, I was so proud of you."
"Thank you."
"When you got back, it seemed like time just flew by. And by then, I had developed a pretty strong crush on you and I felt terrible about it," she admits, lowering her eyes.
"Jenny?" He asks.
Margaret bobs her head, "And Mallory. She's always been so sweet to me, treating me just like family."
"She's always loved you. She told me how you looked out for her, especially when I was in rehab." Leo gives Margaret of smile of thanks for all she's done for his daughter over the years.
"I love her too," she returns his smile. "When you announced that you were leaving the Labor Department at the end of the Presidents first term, I thought that maybe it was time to move on. But, then you asked me to go into the private sector with you and I knew I should say no, but I couldn't. Soon, we were waist deep in the Presidential campaign and the next thing I knew I was working twenty feet from the Oval Office. I realized then that no matter what my reason had been for staying, that I had made the right choice."
"Ya know. I couldn't have gotten here without you. I think of all that we've been through, and I know that you're the one who kept me straight. Thank you." He whispers, as he kisses her cheek.
"Yes, you could have. You just wouldn't have been as well organized," she softly laughs.
"I'm not convinced," he tells her. "I would have never made it through the first couple of years without you. You'll never know what it meant to me to have you by my side."
"Yeah, that first year was... difficult. After Jenny left you, I... um... well ... I guess I finally allowed myself to fall all the way in love with you. So... now you know why I've stayed all these years. It's taken me a while to figure it all out, but it's true. I love you, and I stayed because I couldn't imagine you not being in my life, even if I thought I could never have you."
"Well, you've got me now," Leo pulls her into his arms. "So what are ya gonna do with me now?"
"This," she says, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling into an intense kiss that lasts for several seconds.
When they finally break from the kiss, Margaret discovers that she is now straddling Leo's lap. At first, she is a little embarrassed, but Leo doesn't seem to mind. He looks into her eyes and smiles, and then runs his hands up her sides and rest them just beneath her breasts. He looks deep into Margaret eyes. She nods her head, giving Leo permission to go further. He gently rubs his thumbs over her erect nipples. She moans out when he does this. Margaret presses herself further into his lap, rubbing against his arousal. Leo leans his head back and mummers, "Oh Margaret." Then he leans forward, and pulls her head down to him. He presses his lips against hers and pushes his tongue deep into her mouth. They intensely explore each other's mouths for several moments.
They finally break for air, and Leo starts dropping kisses down her neck and collarbone. He moves his mouth further down, and he covers one of her breasts with it. He gently sucks it into his mouth. Even with her swimsuit on, the sensation is unbelievable. She pulls his head tighter against her as she continues to rub herself against his lower region. Their pace really starts to get moving, when Leo suddenly stops his manipulation and pulls back from her.
"Sorry, but I think... we need to stop," he tells her. He really doesn't want to stop. He really wants her right here and right now, but he knows they shouldn't rush things. He loves her, and he wants her to fully understand that before they make love. He doesn't want their first time to be in the Jacuzzi. He wants to be able to take his time and show her how much he loves her. It won't be just sex in the heat of the moment; it will be love that they will eventually make.
"I know," she softly agrees.
"I don't want to, but..." He tries to explain.
"Yeah, I know that too," she whispers as she kisses his cheek.
"I... want you, you know that, right?" He says, hoping that he hasn't hurt her.
"Yes," she says as she slides from his lap, missing the feel of his desire pressed against her core. "I know you do, and I want you too. But, you're right. We don't need to rush this." She gives him a sweet smile and brushes her lips against his.
"I love you," he whispers against her lips.
"I love you too," she returns.
They sit there for a few moments, staring into each other's eyes and allowing their bodies to calm down.
"So, you're really thirty-eight or maybe thirty-nine years old?" He asks, as he tries to get their minds off of other things.
"I'll be forty in summer," she tells him with a puzzled glance, wondering where he's going with this subject.
"Good," he declares.
"Leo!" She says in a high-pitched voice, as she swats his arm.
"I didn't mean it that way. I was only thinking that it sounds much better that you are only seventeen years younger than me instead of the twenty- five years that I thought you were." He reasons, rubbing the spot that she lightly slapped.
"You thought I was only thirty-three?" She smiles.
"Yeah," he sheepishly admits.
"I wish," she laughs.
"I don't. I like you just the way you are." He tells her as he leans in for a sweet kiss. "Lets get out of here and go to bed. I want to hold you in my arms while I sleep tonight." He tells her as he gets out of the Jacuzzi and then turns and offers her a hand.
"I'd like that," she agrees, taking his hand and climbing out.
"Good, lets go." He leads her to the stairs and off the bed.
==========
They spend the next couple of days falling asleep in each others arm, sleeping late, eating out, exploring the area, talking, soaking until the late hours of the evening in the Jacuzzi, spending quiet time in front of the fireplace, and making out like teenagers. They still have yet to make love, but neither one of them seems quite ready yet.
Leo has been on his best behavior concerning work. He only officially checks in with the President and Josh once a day. The other couple of times a day, he thinks he's snuck past her, but Margaret is fully aware of them, but she lets him have his fun, because he more than makes up for in the late evening hours. She's only heard him raise his voice once to Josh about something that he bungled. Most of the time is spent talking with the President, who is drilling Leo for information about their new and personal relationship.
Margaret can't believe how relaxed he's been, she wonders if he'll be able to find a way to relax, once in a while, after they get back to work. It's going to be impossible to find the same quantity of time alone that they've had these last couple of days. But, she'd have to fine a way to get him out of the West Wing every once in a while. Unlike Jenny, she understands and agrees with how he feels about his job. It really is important, to both of them.
==========
Leo wakes up Monday morning, spooned up against Margaret. He grins as he realizes that the past three days hasn't been a dream. He closes his eyes and wraps an arm around her and holds her tight against him. It isn't long before she stirs and turns in his arms.
"Morning," she says, kissing him.
"Morning," he returns.
"I see somebody's already up," she snickers.
Leo ducks his head in slight embarrassment, "Yeah, sorry bout that."
"Leo, I don't mind. As a matter of fact I'm glad I have that kind of affect on you," she softly giggles as she pushes her hips into him.
"You're evil," he quips, trying control himself. He would love to roll over on her right now and make love to her, but he wants to wait until she's ready. They've come close the last couple of days, but he doesn't want to hurt her. He wants her to know how much he loves her and that he wants this relationship, more than anything.
"Yeah, but you love it," she tells him.
"Says who?" He smirks.
"Says me and him," she giggles, pointing to his arousal.
"Him?" He growls. "You better watch it or you might just find out what he really wants." He informs her, laying an arm on her and then playfully swatting her backside.
"Is that a threat?" She asks, rising an eyebrow. She decides that now's the time for them to take their relationship to the next level. She knows that Leo has been holding off, so she decides to push him over the edge.
"No, that's a promise," he growls.
"And you never break promises. Do you?" She says, as she reaches out and toys with the waistband of his boxers.
"Not if I can help it," he mumbles. Her touching him in that area is making him even more excited.
"Good," she says with an evil look in her eye, as she dips her hand inside his boxers and then runs her hand down his length.
Leo flinches at her touch and almost loses control. He's wanted her so much, and now he knows that its time. He runs his hands up underneath her nightshirt and pulls it off over her head. He groans when her hand leaves him. She has ideas of her own, she pushes his boxers down his legs, and he kicks them away. His mouth finds one breast and then the other, giving them both equal time.
Leo runs a hand down her back and inside her panties. He pulls her tight against himself. His mouth makes its way back up to hers. The tongues duel for several moments. Leo pushes down her panties and looks into her eyes. She nods her head, and he moves on top. When he crosses her threshold, he stops for a second, "I love you," he mumbles. He can't believe how good she feels and how good she makes him feel inside, too.
"I love you too," she says as she raises her hips to meet him. She has never had anyone cause so many wonderful and intense sensations with just one stroke.
Leo slowly begins his motions again, and they became one. He leans down and presses his lips on hers, whispering more words of love into her mouth. She responds in kind with her own words. They continue to enjoy themselves for several minutes, then Leo's motions become stronger and faster until they are both ready.
"I love you," he tells her as he takes them crashing over the top, both of them moaning the other one's name. He collapses on her and they stay that way for a few minutes, each trying to catch their breath. He finally rolls off her and she moans from the lost of his body.
"Oh Leo that was... I mean I've never..." she grasps, trying to explain the emotions running though her body.
"I know, me too," he tells her, as he pulls her into his arms and holds her tight. They lie there for a while, then Leo raises up on one elbow, "Margaret, marry me?" Leo asks as he stares intently into Margaret's brilliant blue eyes.
"Yes," she answers with no hesitation. "Yes, Leo. I'll marry you." She tells him again as she wraps her arms around his neck and hugs him.
"Margaret, I don't want to wait. I want to marry you today." He breathes into her neck, and then pulls from her hug to explain. "I've given this a lot of thought since Saturday, and I don't want to waste anymore time. I don't want to be away from you ever again. Margaret I love you and want you by my side forever."
"Oh Leo, yes I'll marry today. I never want to be away from you either, I was thinking this morning when I woke up how I much I was going to miss waking up in your arms in the morning," she says, pulling him back down to her and assaulting his neck with kisses.
"Margaret, if you keep that up, we're never going to get out of bed this morning," he manages to get out.
"I wouldn't be opposed to that idea," she giggles as she continues to drive him crazy with her mouth and hands.
"I thought we were going to get married today," he smirks, as she rolls him over and winds up on top of him.
"There's always this afternoon," she tells him, as she makes her way down his body dropping kisses as she goes.
"I can live with that," he agrees as he watches her. "Oh... oh Margaret," are the last coherent words he says as she devours him.
==========
They spend the rest of the morning enjoying themselves in bed and several other places in the chalet. They finally leave around one o'clock in the afternoon. They head off for the license bureau to get their marriage license. They hit a small snag after they get there, Leo needs his divorce papers to prove he's divorced. He calls his lawyers office, and they promise to send a fax right away. Leo closes the phone and slips it into his pocket and frowns.
"Leo, its nothing to worry about. It will be here soon," she tells him as he walks back over to her and takes a seat next to her.
"I know, it's just... you know how I hate to wait," he tells her as he takes her hand in his.
"True, but aren't I worth the wait?" She asks in a soft voice.
"Yes, Yes you are. But, you have no idea how long I've waited already." He confesses, squeezing her hand.
"Oh and just how long is that Mr. McGarry?" Her curiosity is rising by the second.
"Can we talk about this later?" He whines, as he glances around the crowded waiting room.
"We could, but I'm impatient just like you are. So spill," she tells him as she plays with the crease of his pants leg.
"Well first of all," Leo whispers, not wanting the rest of the room to overhear their conversation. "I've always thought you were something special... from the first day I met you." Leo inanely smiles as he thinks back and remembers the image of a young tall lanky red hair rushing into his office, on her first day as a temp for him, and telling him the President's office was on the phone and asking him if he wanted to take the call.
The rest of the day went the same way, he would get a call and she would come and tell him. By the end of the day, Leo curiosity's was peaked. He went out to the outer office to ask Margaret if she knew that there was an intercom and if so why she didn't use it. She had told him that she thought they were far too impersonal and that her hearing worked fine, so if he needed her-- all he had to do was call her name.
"Really," she replies in a surprised voice. "I thought you thought I was strange. It was really surprised when you asked me to stay on to be your secretary," she admits, giving him a delicate smile.
"Nah, maybe a little quirky," he softly laughs. "But never strange. You just march to the beat of a different drummer." Leo turns a little more serious. "It's something that I have always loved about you." Leo pauses; there are so many things about her that he loves. He loves to hear her high- heels clicking across his office floor. He loves it when she gives him that squinty eye look when he gets caught trying to pull one over on her. He loves how she doesn't back down from him and is always honest with him. He loves it when they are shoulder to shoulder hovering over his desk working on something. He loves that she's so protective of him and how she takes care of him. He loves her red hair and her fiery personally. He loves her so much for so many different reasons, but mostly he loves her for being her.
Margaret patiently stares at Leo. He seems lost in thought. When a vast smile crosses his face she asks, "Okay, so when?"
"Margaret do you remember that night I called you in the middle of the night, after... Mrs. Landingham was killed?" Leo's voice catches as he remembers that terrible night.
"Yes," she answers getting a sad look in her eye at the mention of her friend's death.
"I... called that night... because I dreamed that you too had been killed in a car wreck and..." Leo pauses, trying to gather himself. He doesn't want to break down in a room full of strangers.
"Oh Leo," Margaret breathes out as she takes his hand. She can see an unshed tear in his eye.
"When I woke up in a sweat and I couldn't convince myself that it wasn't real... I had to call you. I just needed to hear your voice. After I hung up, I couldn't get back to sleep, I just kept thinking, What if it had been you?" That's when it hit me, I had feelings for you." The tear in Leo's eye finally makes its way down his face.
"That night you called. I knew you were upset about something. But, all you would say was that you were fine and not to worry. I got in my car and drove over to your hotel, but I chickened out and didn't go to your room. I just sat in my car all night watching your window," she says, reaching out to wipe the tear off Leo's face.
"You did?"
"Yeah, aren't we a pair," she says shaking her head.
"Yeah, yeah we really are," Leo smiles.
"Leo that was over three years ago," she says, quickly adding up the dates in her head.
"Yeah, I guess it was," nodding his head slowly.
"Why didn't you ever say anything?"
"Well, first off there's that age thing we talked abut the other night, remember I thought I was twenty-five years older than you. Plus I never dreamed that you could ever love me too," he admits.
"Leo, I was so sure that I had given myself away to you so many times over the years, and I was so sure you would fire me if you ever found out that I loved you. I thought you would think I was a silly young thing with a crush, but it's always been so much more than that."
"Boy we really are a pair," Leo says, shaking his head.
"I guess," she bobs her head.
"We've both waited a long time," he says, rubbing the knuckles on her hand.
"Right, so waiting a few more minutes isn't going to matter. Plus, while you were on the phone with your lawyer I got to thinking that an evening wedding with candlelight would be so romantic."
"Mr. McGarry," the young man from behind the counter interrupts Leo's reply. "Your fax is here." Margaret and Leo get up and walk over to the counter. "If you'll just fill out these forms." He informs them, sliding the papers to them. "You'll be out of here in a matter of minutes."
Margaret smiles as Leo picks up one with a shaky hand. "Little nervous there?" She teases.
"Ye...ah," his voice cracks.
"And here I thought I'd be the nervous one on my wedding day." She giggles, taking his free hand and leading him back to their chairs. "Do you want me to fill that out for you," pointing at the paper work in his hand. "I know all your information."
"Nah," he responds, pulling a pen from his suit coat. "I can do it myself." He says, flashing her a crooked grin.
"Well, if you need any help, let me know," she tells him, patting his leg.
Leo takes a hold of her hand, pulls it to him and kisses it then softly mutters, "I might need your assistance later tonight."
"Leo," she flushes.
"What?" He smirks back, trying to look innocent. "You are my assistant aren't you?"
"Yes, and I'll always be willing to lend you a hand." She whispers back, trying to regain the upper hand in the conversation.
"Well, I'm hoping for more than just your hand," he mumbles, releasing her hand as he starts to fill out the form in his lap.
"How am I supposed to concentrate now?" She asks him, playfully giving him a swat on the arm.
"Hey," he laughs back.
Margaret just marvels at the site of a laughing and playful Leo. She's always suspected that he was in there somewhere, buried deep inside. She has occasionally witnessed glimpses of him before, but mostly around Mallory. But, these past few days, he's been more like the man she always dreamed he was.
Margaret and Leo finally settle down and fill out their paper work. The leave soon afterward with their marriage license in hand. They then head off to a little chapel on one of the side roads. Chapel in the Valley is where they decide to pledge their life and love to one another. They make all the necessary arrangements for the ceremony, choosing a seven-thirty wedding time. As they are leaving the chapel, Leo pulls her close to him.
"Margaret," he breathes into her ear. "I love you. You make me so happy."
"I feel the same way too, Leo," she tells him, leaning into his hug. "Do you think the Republicans will be able to handle a happy Leo McGarry?" She giggles into his neck.
"Don't know, don't care." He informs her, pulling her into an earth-shaking kiss on the streets of Gatlinburg.
"Mmm... me either," she agrees, moving her body tightly against his. She can feel his desire pressing insistently against her thigh. "Do we need to head back to the chalet to relieve some of the pressure that's built up since this morning?"
"Maybe, but I thought you might like to go shopping for a wedding dress. I picked up a flyer in the chapel's office. The have a couple little shops here in town," he informs her between the soft kisses that he's dropping on her neck and shoulder.
"Leo, I wonder if there's a tux rental place here? I just love you in a tux." She pulls from his tight hold. "Lets go shopping and then head back to the chalet."
"Okay, both of the shops are within walking distance from here," he tells her, taking a hold of her hand. Leo gives an impish grin. He's been plotting behind her back. He called Mallory yesterday morning, while Margaret was in the shower, and told her of his intentions. She was so happy for them. He asked if she minded not being there, and she told him that it was fine. She told him that she was so happy that he'd finally woken up and saw what was right there in front of him. Leo asked her to go to his hotel and get his new tux and ship it overnight it to the Chalet Rental office. It should be there by now, he hopes.
"You going to be able to walk in your condition, Leo?" She smirks.
"Yeah, but walk in front of me for a while. Will ya?" He explains, guiding her in front of him.
"Okay, just tell me which way to turn up here," she says, pointing at the intersection.
They make their way to the closest bridal shop. Thankfully, Leo has calmed down by the time they get there. Margaret quickly finds several dresses to try on. Leo takes a seat and thoroughly enjoys the modeling show that Margaret puts on for him. Margaret chooses a very simple ivory a-line dress that shows off her shoulders.
"I never really pictured myself in a fancy wedding grown," she reveals, twirling around in front of Leo.
"Oh Margaret... it's beautiful... I mean you're beautiful in it... well I mean you're always beautiful, but that dress... I love it," he stammers out, and then turns to the bridal consultant. "We'll take it."
"Leo," she shrieks, as she looks at the price tag. "Its seven hundred dollars. I wouldn't have even tried it on, if I had looked at the price tag correctly. I thought the seven was a fancy one, I must have looked at it upside down," she blushes.
"I don't care, Margaret," he informs her, moving to her side and kissing her cheek. "It's perfect." He moves in closer to her and whispers into her ear, "and it's the only one I want to help you out of tonight." Causing her to blush even more.
"Leo, you say the sweetest things," she whispers back, returning his kiss.
"Yeah, but lets not let that get around. It'll ruin my image," he whispers back.
"Okay, your secret's safe with me," she agrees. "Now lets find a tux for you."
"Ah about the tux... I have a confession to make." Leo pauses as he flashes her a playful grin. "I sorta had my new one overnighted here."
"When did you do that?" She asks. Surprised that he was able to sneak something past her.
"Yesterday morning, when you were in the shower," he boasts, having finally snuck something past her.
"Who'd you call?" Her mind races ask she tries to figure out who he called and what he told them.
"Mallory," he sheepishly admits.
"She knows?" She softly asks, as glints of worry wash across her face.
Leo nods his head. "Don't worry about it. She was so happy for us." He takes her hand and squeezes it. "She told me it was about time and that she knew that you had been in love with me for a long time."
"She did," Margaret gasps. "Does she hate me?" She asks in a panicked voice, not really thinking about what Leo had just said.
"Margaret, Mallory loves you and wants us to be together." Leo pulls back from her and stares into her eyes, trying to get her to listen to what he's saying.
"She does?"
"Yes Baby, she does." He reaches up and gently strokes her face.
"Leo?" Leaning into his hand, which is lovingly holding her face.
"Yeah?"
"You called me Baby,"
"Yeah... I guess I did. Do you mind?"
"No, I love it," she says as she wraps her slender arms around him and pulls him in for a kiss. After a few moments she pulls back slightly from his arms, allowing her hands to drop to his chest. "Leo, I'm getting married tonight!" She happily informs him.
"Really, what a coincidence, I am too!" He softly chuckles, as he puts a hand to the middle of her back and guides her towards the dressing rooms. "Baby, we need to get going. We need to go get some wedding rings."
"Rings, oh my God Leo. I never even thought about that," she tells him as she hurries off towards the rooms.
"And you call yourself my assistant," Leo smirks.
Margaret stops, turns and shots him an evil grin, "Keep that up Mr. McGarry and I won't be assisting you with anything later tonight," she smirks.
"Well, Miss McGuire, as usual you are right and I beg your forgiveness," he says, bowing to her.
"That's more like it," she laughs as she disappears into the dressing room.
Leo is still laughing and shaking his head when he heads for the counter to pay for the dress. He can't remember the last time he's had such a fun day. Margaret is soon by his side, rubbing the small of his back. "Thank you Leo, I love the dress," bending over and kissing him on the cheek. "But, I still say you spend too much money." She snickers into his ear.
"You're welcome and it's worth every penny," he tells her, signing the receipt, then grabbing the dress and handing it over to her. "We need to get a move on; we have to drive to Knoxville to get the rings."
"Leo, isn't there a jewelry store here in town?"
"Yeah, there is, but it doesn't carry what I want. I called stores this morning when you were in the shower." He informs her, grabbing her hand and pulling her from the store.
"Okay, that's it. No more phone calls when I'm in the shower. I'm going to start taking your cell in there with me. I'm missing out on all the best conversations," she laughs.
"Margaret, I wouldn't worry about it. I don't think you're gonna be showering by yourself any time soon."
==========
Leo and Margaret finally make it back to the chalet around four o'clock in the afternoon. They lay side by side in the master bedroom, tired from their hectic day, trying to take a well-deserved nap. They want to be well rested for their wedding night.
"You're never going to get to sleep if you keep staring at that," Leo rubs his thumb over the brilliant stone that now resides on her ring finger on her left hand.
"I know. I just can't help it." She still can't believe she let Leo talk her into such an expensive engagement ring. "Its so pretty."
"Just like you," Leo points out, as he places a soft kiss on her nose.
"Are you trying to get lucky?" She giggles.
"Maybe," he smirks, taking her deeper into his arms. "Is it working?"
"Is what working?" She runs her hand down his back.
"My plan," he whispers into her ear as he starts to drop kisses down her neck.
"What plan," she breathes out, trying very hard to conceal the excitement in her voice.
"It's not working. Is it?" He asks, as he runs his hand inside her shirt.
"Not so much," she lies.
"Okay," he pouts, as he stops kissing her neck, removes his hand and flips over in bed.
"Hey, get back over here." She laughs, as she playfully slaps his backside. "I was kidding."
"Me too," he says as he quickly flips back over and quickly moves on top of her, grabbing her hands and pinning her to the bed. "You give?"
"Maybe," she pauses, relaxing under him. "Leo, is this... real?"
"You and me?" He asks, releasing her hands, sliding off of her and settling by her side.
"Yeah," she blushes, lowering her head.
"Yeah, Baby," he reaches over and tilts her chin towards him. "We're real. I love you and we're getting married tonight that is if you still want to. It's okay if you want to wait."
"I don't want to wait," Margaret shakes her head. "I want to get married tonight. I guess... its... just I can't believe its really happening. I keep thinking I'm going to wake up, and it's all going to be a dream."
"Its not a dream. It might have been a whirlwind, but it's not a dream." Leo kisses her forehead and pulls her close.
"Leo?" She asks, pulling from his arms.
"Yeah, Baby."
"Do you think this..." she motions between them, "will hurt you or the President?"
"I don't care, and neither does the President," Leo rises up on an elbow, reaches out and runs his hand down her arm.
"How do you know he doesn't?" A panicked Margaret sits up in bed. "You called him, didn't you?" She accuses.
"Yeah, I did. Ya know, he is my best friend." Leo informs her.
"When?" She asks in a high-pitched voice.
"Last night, after you went to sleep. I called him and told him my plans. Well not everything that I was planning on doing, just the asking you part." Leo lies back down on the bed and pulls Margaret down with him.
"What did he say?"
"I won't go into all the details, but lets just say that he's very happy for us. I had to really fight him about coming down here and attending the wedding. Can ya imagine what a circus that would have been?"
"Leo, should we wait and get married in DC, so that the President, First Lady, Mallory and the rest can come, too."
"Nah, I went to get married here, with you and without the hoopla. Is that okay with you?" He asks, running a hand down her hip.
"Very okay with me." She gives him a quick kiss. "Mallory doesn't mind missing your wedding?"
"Its our wedding and she was fine with it. As a matter of fact, she and Abbey have gotten together and are planning a huge reception for us in a couple of weeks." Leo waits for this to sink in.
"Really," she squeaks, her voice showing a little bit of excitement. "When did all this happen?"
"Abbey called while you were trying on wedding gowns. You know, that's what you get for trying on so many different dresses." Leo smirks.
"Am I going have to take your cell phone away from you?" She reaches over and tries to get in his pants pocket.
"Nah, you know all my secrets now." He grabs her hand and pulls it to him.
"All of them?" She raises an eyebrow at him.
"Maybe," he laughs, as he kisses her hand.
"So, you've got it all planned?" She asks, moving her hips against him.
"Yeah, so lets forget about everything else. We have your dress, my tux arrived, we have the rings, the whole wedding is already planned and we have our license. So lets just relax. And as someone told me a couple nights ago, enjoy the peace and quiet. Because after tonight, you're going to be Mrs. Leo McGarry and you're going to have your hands full."
"I can't wait," she breathes into his neck as she snuggles deeper into his hold.
"Me either," he replies, enjoying the feel of her body pressed against his.
==========
The wedding goes without a hitch. The flowers are beautiful and abundant in the candle lit chapel. The service is with traditional vows and rings being exchanged. Several photos are taken during and after ceremony. Leo had promised the President lots of pictures. They leave the small chapel in a shower of rice and ride in a horse drawl carriage, that Leo surprised Margaret with, to the restaurant. After a very nice dinner, they are whisked back to their chalet in a limo.
==========
Leo unlocks the door to the chalet and then turns to Margaret starts to pick her up.
"Leo, don't. You'll hurt yourself."
"Margaret, you worry too much." Leo tells her as he tries to pick her up again.
"Leo, I don't want you hurting your back on our wedding night or pulling my favorite muscle." She informs him, as she pulls him into her arms and kisses him firmly on the lips. A kiss that puts all other kisses to shame.
"Okay," a dazed Leo and very happily relents as Margaret pulls from his arms and warps an arm around his waist and they walk though the door together.
They stand in the entry way for a while trading a few romantic kisses. Margaret wants to change into something more comfortable, and Leo decides to build a romantic fire. As promised earlier in the day, he unzips her wedding dress and presses a kiss to her bare shoulder as it's exposed. He watches her walk away with the dress opened, sucking in a breath filled with passion.
He puts some pillows and a blanket on the floor for them to relax against.
When Margaret walks into their room, she finds a beautifully wrapped package on the bed. She walks over and opens in and finds a beautiful lacy negligee in just her size. She opens the card, and it is from her wonderful new husband.
Baby,
I saw this today, and I couldn't resist seeing you in it. I can't wait for tonight, our wedding night.
All my love,
Leo
Margaret wipes the happy tears from her face as she picks up the long pale green nightgown from the box. She changes into it and sprays on a lightly scented perfume before she makes her way back out to the living room. She steps out and sees Leo standing next to the fireplace lost in thought, wearing the tux pants and dress shirt with the jacket discarded and the tie hanging loose around his neck. Soft music is playing in the background.
"Leo?"
Leo looks up and sees his beautiful wife standing before him in her pale green negligee. It takes his breath away to see her standing there, waiting for him, as they start their lives together. He takes her in his arms as the instrumental arrangement of "Isn't It Romantic" comes on the CD player. As they sway to the music, they look deeply into each other's eyes, smiling shyly, brushing gentle kisses on each other's lips, faces and necks as their hands slowly touch and explore.
Leo moves in to kiss her lips, gently brushing them before leaning in for more. She opens her lips and invites his tongue to explore her mouth more completely. They both moan as they hungrily explore each other, barely moving in time to the music. Her arms move up to wrap around his neck, and his arms surround her waist, pulling her closer. They make their way over to the inviting fireplace and sink down onto the pillows that he's prepared.
Margaret's hand reaches up to pull off his black tie as then both hands start to unbutton his dress shirt, placing more kisses on his chest as his skin is exposed. She pulls his shirttail from his pants so that she can more fully explore his chest.
Leo reaches up to slip the spaghetti strap off her shoulder and kisses her neck and collarbone. Moving down toward her breast, his butterfly kisses arouse her even more.
Margaret pulls him down on top of her. She moans softly as she feels his arousal pressing against her. She moves her knee to press gently into him causing him moan, "Oh, Margaret."
She smiles as they roll onto their sides facing one another as her hand slides down to gently caress him through his pants. Her fingers slip inside the waistband of his pants to undo the fastener and the zipper. His navy silk boxers are sticking up through the zipper. She looks down and smiles in surprise, finding the boxers she always fantasized seeing him in.
With a smile, her finger sliding from star to star, the small white stars shimmer with spontaneous movement. "Oh look Sweetie, it's the Little Dipper."
Leo's face falls, and he mumbles with a pout, "The Little Dipper? Don't you mean the Big Dipper?"
When Margaret sees the look on his face she knows she touched on any man's sore spot and leans forward to kiss his pouty lips and caress the side of his face, "Of course I meant the Big Dipper," she says seductively as her fingers brush him, making him shiver in anticipation. "Are you ready?"
"Oh yeah, I think I am," he says as he pushes her onto her back. She looks so beautiful in the firelight. The light is dancing off her pale skin and fiery red hair. The blushed skin of her excitement is such a turn on. He slides her nightgown off her and slips out of the rest of his clothing.
They make slow passionate love for the first time as husband and wife in front of that wonderful fire.
==========
After recovering from their lovemaking, they spend some time cuddling on the couch, in front of a roaring fire, talking about their wedding, the past few days, and making some plans for their future.
"Margaret, when we get back. I want you to find us a place to live." He informs his bride, as he leans over and kisses her cheek.
"I've been thinking about that. I think a condo or townhouse, instead of a house. I know we've not really talked about it, but we don't know where we'll be or what we'll be doing after the White House," she reasons, as she takes a hold of his hand.
"To tell ya the truth, I haven't even looked past the White House for a long time, because I never had reason to until now. I'm not sure what I'll do after the White House, all I care about is that I'm with you," he tells her as he kisses her hand.
"I guess I figured you take some time off, at least one or two days," she snickers. "And then go out on the lecture circuit for a while or maybe even teach Poly Sci at some university."
"Me... teach?" Leo points at himself. "You've got the wrong person, Mallory's the teacher."
"I think you'd make a great teacher. Where do you think Mallory got it from, anyway?"
"I don't know. I'm not sure I could handle teaching kids," Leo says, giving it some serious thought.
"Leo, what do you think you've been doing these past five years?"
"True. But, sometimes it seems more like I'm the principal, though."
"Leo, we don't have to decide anything tonight. Besides, if you wanted, you'd never have to work again anyway."
"Margaret, have you been reading the disclosure reports again?" He smirks, turning and pulling her into his arms.
"Maybe. I just wanted to see if the man that I've spent the past few years daydreaming about, would be able to keep me in the manner that I've become custom to," she laughs, nuzzling her face against his neck.
"And, do I meet your standards?" He breathes into her ear.
"You exceed them in more ways than one."
"Good to know," he smirks. "Lets go get more comfortable, Mrs. McGarry," he tells her in his gravelly voice.
"I'm all for that, Mr. McGarry" as she slowly pulls from his arms and gets up from the couch wearing his shirt just as she had a few short days before. Margaret reaches back for Leo's hand and pulls him off the couch. They walk arm in arm off to the bedroom to begin their life together as a married couple, with her no longer regretting getting caught up in his shirttail.
The End.