By: chipmunk and leosimpishgrin
Pairing: Leo/Margaret - Romance
Rating: R
Spoilers: None really
Timeline is near the end of year one, to start with
and then it goes off to Never, never land.
This is not strictly cannon by the show.
Doesn't matter the year or the situation.
Plot Development and Beta By: Imp leosimpishgrinyahoo.ca
Disclaimer: in part 1 at:
Summary:
Warning: 'Sexual content' – Yes, we let them have sex now!!!
Link to first fic that started it all:
Part 2Letha, the cleaning lady that Margaret agreed to the first weekend that Leo was in the apartment, understands completely when Margaret calls her to explain their dilemma, "Letha, Dear, I know you were coming in the morning, but we're in a bit of a pickle this evening. We need to pack and leave for the rest of the week on very short notice. Leo has been ordered to accompany the President to England in the morning and I'm going to be staying at the Residence with the First Lady."
Margaret shoots a pointed look at Leo, who's sulking around in his kitchen. She can tell he's sulking, due to the fact that he's not checking to see what's available for him to fix for their dinner. This is unnatural for Leo to be standing in his kitchen and not have something to do.
Margaret continues on the phone, "I know it's a lot to ask this late in the day, Letha, but could you possibly come over and help with the clothes pressing, as well as do your normal weekly cleaning? It would be a tremendous help, to both of us if you could manage to come tonight." Margaret wouldn't want Letha to be penalized by their absence and therefore reducing Letha's weekly income. She also knows that Letha would never hear of accepting the wage in forfeit. Letha would shoot down Leo's offer to pay her anyway, in a heartbeat, if she wasn't earning it. Letha and Leo tend to lock horns, but they both actually relish the battle of wills between them.
As Letha answers her sweet Margaret, Letha's Irish accent from the homeland is very apparent, as she agrees in a kindly and sympathetic manner. "I can't fathom how a wisp of a thing like you and 'him' even know what day of the week it is, with your crazy lives a running this country, in my opinion."
Margaret's face breaks into the first smile of the evening. She knows that Letha has an opinion for everything happening in DC and is not shy about sharing it. But under her gruff attitude, she has a heart of gold and for some reason she has taken it upon herself to take Margaret to her heart.
"Tell 'Mr. McGarry' that I'll be right over to straighten out his troubles and any other difficulties that ye have, in a getting the two of you children ready to pop out the door at dawn."
Margaret tries not to let Leo see her smile at the way Letha addresses Leo to ruffle his feathers, "Mr. McGarry and I will be depending on you to do just that, Letha. You're an angel to help on such short notice."
Leo pops in a comment to Margaret. "Tell Letha not to give the agent a hard time at the door about her cleaning bag again this week. It's getting a little old to have to save him from her decking him with it." Leo rolls his eyes and blows out his breath at the adventure they had last week. It might just be a fair fight at that.
As Leo answers the door a short time later, holding the door wide, but blocking the entrance, as he looks over the head of his short housekeeper to the stiff looking agent behind her. He notes that both of his on-duty agents are now in the hallway. He glances down into her determined face, amazed at how her soft-wrinkled sweet face deceives those unaware of the robust and opinioned character behind it. His eyes narrow and he doesn't have to wait long for Letha to share her views with him.
"Don't be a giving me a look, 'Mr. McGarry.' Thems the ones that started it this time. You'd think a bairn growed as yourself, would have enough sense to warn a body that there were two of them black birds hovering around your person. What'd cha be doing this time to get an extra one?" She never waits for his answer, as she leaves him holding the door by ducking under his arm to enter the apartment, in search of her sweet chick, which needs her help.
Closing the door, Leo's swaggering walk is now in evidence, almost cocky appearing, as he follows Letha to the living room with some small hope of retaining his right to be there. Even though it's against her opinion. One of these days it might happen. He's not in a good mood tonight for any of her banter against him and his way of life. Leo may not be able to puts things to right with today's situation, but he doesn't need to be raked over the coals in his own home for his lack of control.
Leo watches her deposit her bag on the coffee table and he notes that Letha is already voicing words of comfort to Margaret. It takes the edge off his defensive mood toward her, as she wraps her arms around Margaret and coos how badly the world treats the pair of them, after they try so hard to right the misery of others. He notes her faded, but immaculately neat dress and worn comfy slippers, hair up in a mopcap and a full-front apron. Looking very like the dear grandmother he vaguely recalls from his childhood. She may not look like much to most people, but he can't deny that she's very efficient, discreet and completely trustworthy.
As Letha heads to the laundry unit to get that started and soon passes through the living room to collect Leo's hamper, she scolds them under her breath, clucking like an old mother hen, "Him that works all the hours God sends and then some, and her no smarter than to match him near hour for hour."
Leo rumbles a warning to the opinioned housekeeper, "Letha!"
She quickly retorts back in like manner, "Mr. McGarry!"
Margaret is definitely not in the mood to referee their verbal sparring, "Leo!"
Leo grumbles that they're teaming up on him. "She likes you, Margaret. With me, I get the impression that if I stood still long enough, she would dust me like a piece of the furniture."
Margaret thinks she's one of those wonderfully unique, but mostly overlooked people in this world. "Leo, quit grumbling back at her. She's a diamond in the rough."
Very rough, Leo thinks, definitely not one of his gemstones. "Yeah, Margaret, from a jewelry counter at Wal-Mart."
After an hour, Letha heads into the kitchen trying to decide when to give it a mopping and while there, she can tell that dinner still has not been made. Leo is soon hovering at the doorway quietly guarding his domain and this doesn't intimidate her one little bit. She can tell that he's sadly upset that his world is off its axis tonight, "Mr. McGarry, set yourself," she points to the stool by the kitchen cart.
"Letha, I get to be the boss in my kitchen," he grumbles softly.
She just looks at him knowingly and glances to the stool.
Leo sighs and does her bidding. She again reminds him of his Granny Daugherty, whom he had loved with his whole little boy's heart.
Letha pops open the fridge and hands him some tomatoes, lettuce, baby carrots, green onions, left over meatloaf and the jar of mayonnaise. She steps to the counter and hands him the bread to make meatloaf sandwiches, as he doesn't seem to be in the mood to cook. Reaching for a sharp knife she looks at him for guidance with her hand touching the knives. He nods his head, when she touches the right one. He gives Letha a shy smile, "Thanks, Letha," and he sets to work making salads and sandwiches for a meal.
She finds small ways to fuss over him in a backhanded manner. Letha knows that the kitchen is where 'the Mister' finds solitude from his stressful world. "Get busy, Mr. McGarry. Little Margaret doesn't have a scrap of fat on her to depend on. The chick misses too many meals as it is and the two of ye would starve tonight, without a body to guide ye." She gathers some cleaning supplies from under the sink and leaves Leo to his meal making. Muttering to herself, "And him just half a year from near dying himself." She has him bodily worse each time she mentions his attack and genuflects for good measure. It never hurts to, in his line of work. She pauses to grab the roll of paper towels, "Probably'll just feed him tiny little sandwiches and tea on the other side of the pond." Clucking to herself, she turns for the door and knowing that even though Leo looks busy at the kitchen cart, he's been doing it quietly to listen to her words. "Hump! Now then the Irish, them know how to feed a growed man."
Leo grins shyly at the vision of Letha calling Margaret, 'Little Margaret', when there's near half a foot in height difference. He always calls Letha by her first name, to be the opposite of her calling him 'Mr. McGarry' or 'the Mister'. Like he's trying to get her to call him Leo, having her surrender to being friendly and casual with him.
Later in the evening, Letha is grumbling a little louder on her way to the guestroom bath. She passes through the guestroom where Leo is working on packing his suitcase, which he has opened across the guest bed, "They that be that close and 'not' be going to the homeland and him a McGarry."
Leo doesn't move his head, but glances at the retreating form of the grumpy housekeeper with a slight grin that he'd never let her see. He grumbles back at her, to get her goat, "It's not my choice, Letha. It seems that on this trip, I don't have a voice in where I'm going to be." He likes her crusty manner. Wonder why? Look in the mirror?
Letha knows something is up and that her Margaret and the Mister are not happy.
Letha grumbles more while cleaning. She keeps switching from supporting her side, to his side and against the world. Leo abruptly reins her in, before she utters her opinion on the President. "Letha, don't you say it. Just keep that opinion to yourself, if you don't mind." Leo has a line that will 'not' be crossed in his home by others. He reserves that right for himself and sometimes Margaret.
The packing continues in two different camps with mixed emotions. Letha being there keeps them from fighting more over the President's decision, but she's also a damper to any real making up between them, until she's gone. Leo and Margaret are off balance the entire evening. They're not happy all the way around after the fight at the office and so they just mope, as they go though the routine of packing. Both also are stealing glances, wondering if the other is still simmering, while hoping for a sign that the other is ready to make amends, they only have tonight to make up.
Margaret sees that it's 1 a.m., when she finally sees the end of the needed chores, "Letha, won't you take advantage of the guest room and stay the rest of the night here? You worked like a trooper to help get us packed and cleaned the apartment as well."
Letha, shaking her head in disagreement, as she finishes the last of the night's tasks, "Thank ye all the same, Dearie, but I'll sleep in me own bed. Me body's used to resting in one place, plus you and him need to clear the air and go to rest with love in your heads and in your hearts. You've no need to be borrowing 'a missing each other', before the time comes to ye."
Margaret again tries to convince her to stay, "We're getting up and leaving early and you could stay and sleep in."
Leo offers, as a given, "Baby, I'll pay for her a private taxi to take her home, since she doesn't want to stay over." He drops his eyes and looks aside, at Margaret's pointed look telling him that calling her 'Baby' is not going to smooth out this day's disagreement.
Letha straightens and folds her hands in front of her, by grabbing her other wrist and states her decision, "I'll be a taking up Mr. McGarry's kind offer for a ride and you'll not be a worrying, Dearie. One of them blackbirds can see me into a cab and I'm sure that the wee cabbie will watch me in ta me building for a crown or two."
Jed and Abbey have a small moment in bed talking that night. Jed hopes that Abbey might be able to help him figure out what went wrong with Leo today. Leo's not talked to me since just after lunch, when I informed him that I needed him in London this week.
Jed knows for certain that Leo is pissed for some reason, about going away from Margaret and he's at a loss as to why. Pulling his wife into his arms to cuddle as they sleep, Jed asks, "Abbey have you heard of some reason that Leo would need to stay home with Margaret this week instead of going to London with me? Is something else wrong, besides her ear infection that you're treating for her?"
Abbey is enjoying their going to bed at the same time, as she snuggles in against her husband she answers, "Not that I know of. I'm sure that Margaret is not pregnant. Well as sure as I can be without testing her. I had to know, before I prescribed the antibiotic, as some of them aren't safe to take if the woman is pregnant. Margaret did pause when I asked. I'm not sure if it was from the shock of me asking her or if she had to seriously consider her answer. But she answered no." I was hoping she would add the words 'not yet', after the no. Abbey thinks happily, in the darkness of the room, "At least there's hope. She didn't protest and deny the possibility."
Jed gives her a small squeeze at her happiness for Margaret and Leo's happiness. "Well, I'm baffled, as to why Leo is so pissed about going to London. I admit that I did tend to steamroll him today, when I told him that I needed him in London and I really didn't let him get much said in protest." Jed honestly admits and continues, "Leo just started to state something about Margaret, but I assumed he was worried about her ear infection or that she couldn't go with him. I'm sure he's pissed at me, after he did not talk to me for the rest of the day and then I was really sure, when he didn't tell me he was leaving for night. Like he just went quiet, we both know he does that when I really tick him off." He pauses and she waits in the dark silence for him to get it all off his chest, rubbing gently on his forearm. "Abbey, I'm really sure that something is wrong. I could tell that they were both upset, especially when I saw them walking to the car. They weren't talking to each other and they both looked so sad. Something is very wrong and they're not talking." He repeats the bottom line of his worry.
Abbey reassures Jed, "Well if they aren't talking to us about what's wrong. All we can do is, while we each have them beside us this week, to try to root out the problem. You work on Leo at your end and I'll see if I can crack Margaret while I have her here."
It sounds like a plan to me, Sweetknees. You know how it gets to me when Leo is mad at me and not talking."
Abbey drops a kiss to his hand, "I know, Pumpkin. I may be your better half and some say we are near soul mates, but you and Leo have grown so close over the years, to be more like twin brothers. Where one has to have the other near to get through the day. He's your touchstone and you are the same for him."
Jed drops a kiss to her exposed neck, where her hair has fallen aside, "You are 'definitely' my soul mate in this world, My Love, but you also have Leo and me pegged. I can't imagine life without either of you in it. And I don't mean just here in the White House."
Abbey knows he's serious, but she can't resist, as she drowsily teases, "When are you two going to let Margaret in on the fact that after the White House you two will have us all settled together, probably at the farm. With as many extras from the staff that you can rope in after this is over. All working together to either run Sam or Josh's campaigns or some other adventure. You two are going to have a hard time topping this one at the White House."
Jed chuckles at her honestly, "Well I'm sure that Leo will think up something, if I don't."
Abbey swats behind her to connect with his hip in reply to his boast, "Just like you two have done since you were boys. I have no doubt. At least with the next one, I'll have Margaret to help me either reel you two in or patch you two up."
Jed can tell that he better not be borrowing trouble from the future, "Let not go there yet, Sweetness. I have enough to deal with in the here and now. I'll work on patching things up with Leo and try to find out what is bothering him about this week and you see what you can glean from Margaret and we can compare notes each day when call each other." He kisses her warm body again and she sighs with contentment. "Lets just hope that they are home right now and putting things right between them."
Abbey drops a kiss onto his forearm, "As long as you don't call them tonight to see how it's going. Leo would reach through the phone and cheerfully choke you."
Jed rolls her toward him, so he can lean over her, "Well, Sugarplum, I can think of more interesting ways to keep me busy and away from the phone." He kisses her with growing passion and she moans in agreement, wrapping her arms around his neck to roll him farther on top of her. So much for getting to sleep early tonight. Leo and Margaret are on their own tonight.
Back at the apartment, Leo and Margaret move around the apartment doing small unnecessary tasks. Both are glancing cautiously at each other, now that they are alone again.
Letha had left, escorted by an agent walking rigidly behind her with a dark and wary look on his face.
Leo and Margaret have been simmering all day over the coming separation. Both are not happy with the situation and even at their own reactions, after the fight they had in the office.
Watching her, Leo admits to himself honestly, My Margaret is as miserable as I am and I can't watch her a moment longer wander around our home with this between us. Leo knows that she's hurt and disappointed. He walks up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist in a hug, he quietly whispers behind her ear, "I'm sorry."
His soft rumble of sadness immediately washes away any unwarranted anger she has toward him in this mess. She turns in his arms, weepy that he cares enough to be the first to make the effort to fix this between them. "Oh, Leo, I'm sorry too," her voice conveying a mutual sadness of her disappointment at not going with him and the possibility of their weekend plans falling apart.
Their eyes lock and he repeats, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for my part in making you unhappy and I'm sorry for you being sick," he gives her a quick kiss to her quivering lips, "and I'm really sorry that you're not able to go to London with me."
She tries to look down from his sympathetic face, a little ashamed at her private pity party that she's been having.
He lifts her chin with a crooked finger, as he continues, "I'm sorry that I've been a pain in the ass to you today."
She gives him one quick, small, watery smile that doesn't last, as she's at the point that all she needs is a good cry, right about now, for all that has gone wrong today and for him telling her he's sorry for all of it."
Leo is still talking to her softly, " I'm sorry for the unexpected trip, Baby. He needs me. I'm really sorry that our First Anniversary may not be as we were hoping."
She gives a little hiccup at his mentioning the main reason they're both so upset with the change in plans for this week and pulls a tissue out of her pocket to use and to shred in her fingers.
His eyes are sad and glisten with tears, as he whispers softly, "I'm so sorry that I can't fix it." This is what has hurt me the most today, he honestly admits to himself.
She nods softly, "I know, Leo." She places a hand on his chest, as if in comfort.
During his listing to her of why he's sorry, Margaret has unhappy tears streaming down her cheeks.
Leo is near tears at seeing her crying for something he can't make better for her and for him. "Baby, you know I'll do my utmost best to be here with you on Sunday." He kisses her wet cheeks, as a promise, his hand stroking her hair back.
Margaret whispers with a shaky voice, "Leo, I'm so sorry for all of it, too. It just kinda hit me blindsided about the trip and when I realized I couldn't go, I was mad at life, or the fates or my luck, but I'm sorry I shut you out. Can you forgive me for that? It's not your fault you're needed in London. We know that our time is not our own right now. I understand that, just like you do. I guess it was just everything piling up on me today." In a typical Margaret manner, she gestures sideways with both hands, loose tissues bits floating to the floor from her fingers.
He raises his hands to hold her face, as he again kisses both of her cheeks. There is no way he can kiss off all her tears tonight, her disappointment is too great and her crying is breaking his heart. He pulls her into a hug and a few tears of his own slip down to hide in her red hair.
Leo raises his head to look into her face, "Lets go to bed Baby. I think we both really need some serious cuddling right about now. I want to hold you next to my heart, like I'll never let you go. At least we have some of the night left for us." At her nod of agreement, he unwraps his arms from around her and takes her by the hand, to lead her to the bedroom.
Once there, they don't bother with nightclothes, as they want to be as close as they can get. They remove their outer clothing and slip under the cover in only their silk and satin under things. Leo gets in and slides over for Margaret to join him. First, she clicks off the bedside lamp, before moving to him, as he pulls her into his arms.
In their desire to make the most of this night, she slips into his arms in the familiar manner that seems as natural as breathing to them. Two sets of soft lips are searching for the perfect match, as they kiss trails on the warm skin of the other, in the dark. Trying to express the love that they feel for the other. Their lips are more demanding when they lock with the others in a passionate kiss. Their hands are exploring in the dark, over bodies that they have learned and now know how to caress and stroke to achieve the perfect response in the other.
Leo and Margaret start to murmur loving sounds, as their lips release, after their tongues have caressed together, till air was finally demand by their bodies. They pant in small breaths, between the busy work of their lips, to speak each other's names, like a soothing touch.
Leo rubs her breasts with his hands under her bra, not even taking time to remove it, till she's moaning into his mouth.
Margaret's hands are making long strokes down his back, to grasp and rub his hips through his satin boxers.
They both know that they need to pause in their attentions to each other, to discard the last of their clothing, but they're not willing to waste one more moment of this night.
Margaret slips her hands under the back of his boxers to cup his cheeks and pushes them lower. She tugs on him, to roll him more onto her, therefore relieving him of his last article of clothing.
Leo gives a small, satisfied chuckle into the crook of her neck at her success. He slides his hand behind her and his fingers again find hers to flip the catch on her bra to rid her of its restraint. With his goal achieved, he then hugs her and rolls her to lie over him. He slides his hands down her long lean sides, not hesitating at her hips, as her silk panties now precede them, to be discarded off the ends of her toes, as his toes finish the job, when his arms reach their limit at her knees. He has this down to an art.
She wastes no time in congratulating him, but uses her advantage of having him under her. She moves her legs to embrace his hips and she starts encouraging him to proceed faster tonight than they ever have before. The night is short and they have so much to say to each other with their bodies, before dawn.
Leo reaches between them to find her pleasure point and to help with her moisture by liberally applying some lube, as she conveys her desire to stay above him.
Margaret rocks against his hand and at the same drops kisses to his chest, searching in the dark for his sensitive nipple that just drives him wild, as she sucks on one. Her soft curls are brushing against him in an erotic way that has him totally focused on her motions, where they are nearly joined.
They're trying to remember to breathe, as they get high on the passion they're sharing and the need for air. They love to fly together, as they both strive to bring the other to new heights with their love.
Margaret reaches between them, as she guides him to her center. She gently rocks onto him and each time he softly moans with her, as he fills her more and more.
They have found such a comfortable rhythm together. They're so in tune to each other, as they build their passion to reach for the sky.
Leo pulls her closer with his free hand, now that he's fully engulfed in her, to change their positions. He has such a need tonight to pilot her to the stars in the night sky.
She wraps her arms around him to pull him close to her and is able to nearly feel his heart beating against hers.
As they move with an age-old dance, she wraps her legs around his thighs trying to mold their bodies as close together as humanly possible, as they both near the edge. Margaret wants, like he does, to freefall together, as the touch the moon in the night together.
Within moments, words of love are whispered one last time as the stars arrive around them, as they both crash over. Holding each other tight, as the trembling claims their bodies. The only sound, as they enjoy the love they have just shared, is the panting of breathes, as they both place tiny kisses of thanks on each other. A short time later, they roll to lie in each other's arms, to experience the joy of their mutual afterglow.
Leo breathes to her, "I love you so much. I thank God for you every day." He places a kiss to her lips and pulls her head to lie tucked lovingly to his chest.
Margaret whispers, as if afraid of breaking the moment, "I love you, Leo, more than life itself and I feel so loved in your arms." She snuggles in closer to listen to his heart beating in agreement, as it returns from its adventure in passion.
They know that they have to relent and sleep tonight, at least for in a short while until the first rays of sunlight announce the day and the world that will be waiting for them. Leo and Margaret sleep the sleep of contented lovers, knowing that time is precious to them, especially now that they've renewed their love for each other once again. They can take anything the world has to give them as long as they can do it together.
To be continued in Part 3 of 10 (hopefully)
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blessings
chipmunk aka: Betty Lou Riley riley2bright.net
Imp aka: Lynn Jessome lhjessomeyahoo.com
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Posted 06-17-04