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
Archived at:Summary:
Warning: 'Sexual content' – Yes, we let them have sex now!!!
Link to first fic that started it all:
Part 3
At the sound of the alarm the next morning, Leo pulls Margaret into his arms to kiss her awake with tender kisses to her lips and face. Murmuring his love to her and welcoming her to the morning, he nuzzles her neck, placing secret kisses that he can't resist to her alabaster skin.
She reaches to wrap an arm around his neck, to pull his body down closer to her, savoring the warmth of his body angled over hers. She snuggles her face into his neck and breathes in the scent that is truly his. A scent that is a combination of yesterday cologne, Leo's very male essence and a large part of it is a musk from last nights evaporated sheen he wore on his body in the afterglow of the passion, after reaffirming their love for each other.
Leo raises his face to look into her eyes, "Baby, we don't have much time this morning, and regretfully, I think we'd better go ahead and get up. I'm sure the coffee is brewing by now."
She gives him a sad look of understanding and lifts her face to softly kiss his lips in agreement. Pulling back, she confirms that he's right. "Go start the shower, Sweetie, and I'll make up the bed and be right in."
In the bathroom, Leo has been preparing for their shower by warming the water and laying out fresh towels, knowing that she would be there momentarily, before he steps into the shower. Once in the shower, he turns, waiting to help her step in with him, after she quickly disrobes.
Margaret soon starts using the soapy puff. To gently rub the sweet scented soap over Leo, wanting to wash him, as a loving caress.
Leo eyes darken with passion, at her swirling motion on his body and he impatiently can't wait for his turn to return the favor with the puff. After applying liquid soap to his hands, he starts to stroke and caress her wet body with only the soft bubbles on his hands. He makes a detailed job of it, causing her to slow her puff movements on his body. His hands gliding lower, reaching around her to stroke her hips and back up the front of her to firmly rub her wet peaked breasts. The erotic sense of the moment causes her to moan with the pleasure that he's giving her body. With an arm around her shoulders to steady them, he dips his hand down to remove the final traces of their loving making from the night before, as Leo's fingers rub the last essence of sex from her most intimate area. His mouth catches her moan and silences it with a passionate kiss. His own passion has risen between them and is enjoying the texture of her soft soapy curls. With both of them shakily breathing, they break apart. Each knowing that now is not the time to surrender to their own wants and needs. Time is short this morning and they said all they could, just a few hours before, to each other's body in the dark of night. They rest their wet foreheads together, to cool down, before exchanging a tender quick kiss, both knowing they need to finish their shower and get dressed.
After their shower, Margaret is in the Master bedroom adding her cosmetic bag to her packed case, trying to keep a handle on her emotions. She's fighting to steel her resolve to be strong today, knowing that soon they are separating for an indeterminate amount of time. Her heart is in her throat at the thought of not being able to watch over her Leo. Back at the time of his dilemma last August, she was so scared for him. She never wanted him far from her care, hardly out of her sight, if she could prevent it. Margaret thought she was doing better with it since then, but she finds with the full detail of agents back again that her feelings have never really lessened, not even the slightest. And here they are parting in just a few hours, with an ocean soon to be between them. She gives a small sniff and juts out her chin. Taking a deep steadying breath she picks up her case and her tote bag and with a last glance at their haven from the world, she leaves their room.
Just as she enters the living room, Margaret sees Leo come out of the guest room with his thick black leather traveling case in his hand and a black nylon suit bag over his shoulder. She glances down to her own floral patterned case in her hand. Knowing that they're parting for who knows how many days, especially not knowing if he'll return in time for them to celebrate their special day together on Sunday. Margaret can't help having one final teary breakdown and she sits down on the couch to take a moment to try to compose herself, before they leave for the White House.
Leo lowers his travel bag down to rest on the floor next to hers, draping the suit bag over them and moves to sit beside her. He wraps a comforting arm around her and pulls her close to hug her against his side. He places a tender kiss to her temple, commiserating with her, but hopefully helping her to come to terms, again, with things that they cannot control. "Baby, try not to be so sad. We might get lucky and be able to spend Sunday together. Lets take Letha's advice 'and not go borrowing a missing each other, till we have to'." He tries, but fails at giving her a small brave smile. He continues with his low tremor voice "And yes, My Love, I will miss you immensely this week." He pauses a moment to find his own strength, "But we both know we have a job to do and we serve at the pleasure of the President." He finishes with raising her hand to kiss the tears from her fingertips, glistening there, from where she has been wiping her eyes trying to save her makeup.
Margaret gives a half hiccup, half chuckle at Leo trying to imitate Letha's accent with her words of wisdom. Also at him reminding her of what they both know is the ultimate truth. They both wholehearted believe in serving the President, even when it hurts, they do that which is hard, the best. Margaret turns and with her reddened eyes, looks him honestly in his face, "I know, Leo." She raises her other hand to gently cup the side of his face, "Oh God, I'll miss you every time I see your empty office chair." She pauses in middle of her sadness and nods making the point, "I'll have to remember not to bring you lunch or coffee."
Leo's face gives the hint of a sad smile, but he doesn't comment to her about her note to herself. But I'm sure she'll remind me to eat, when we talk on the phone this week.
Margaret's eyes get sad again, "Most of all, My Love, I'll miss sleeping in your arms at night. Smelling your fading cologne, as I lay my head on your shoulder." She nervously adds in, "I only hope I can sleep at all, without the sound of your breathing. I've gotten so used to having you beside me at night, Leo. I'll miss your feathery kisses and soft touches that you sleepily place on my skin in the dark of the night. But mostly I will miss your gentle kisses that nudge me awake in the morning," she draws a shaky breath fighting the tears.
Leo pulls her around to hug her tightly at her loving words that are really no comfort to either of them. They tuck their faces against each other's neck, as an eye lock now with be the undoing of each. They hold tightly to each other, as if to keep from falling off the edge of the earth. Knowing it will be their last private hug and it will have to last for the next few days.
They part silently, as words are not going to help the situation, as they just found out. Both pick up their suitcases and quietly Leo places a hand on her back to guide her to the foyer, pausing only to complete some last minute details, before opening the door. Waiting for them in the hallway is the agent, ready to escort Leo to work. Just like any other day at the White House.
When they arrive at work, they carrying in their bags through the lobby and halls to Leo's office and unfortunately things are again cool between them. It was a quiet ride this morning in the black sedan. There were no words left to say, as words will not fix this. They both honestly know this, but it doesn't help the feelings of slight anger that both are still hold onto in order to combat the weaker emotions that they fought to control at home.
After Senior Staff, Margaret follows Leo into the Oval Office at the request of the First Couple. Margaret is quiet, as they approach the President and Abbey. Margaret gives a small smile to Abbey and drops her head, knowing she's still a little red eyed from crying this morning and she doesn't want the President to see that, as she knows he will ask about her with concern. The real fear she has is that she might lose the hold she has on her tongue. Margaret honestly is afraid she may say something to the President and disgrace herself in the Oval Office. She opts for safety and gives him the cold shoulder, which is about all she can do at the moment. Margaret silently stands just behind Leo's shoulder, as the President tries to lighten the mood in the room.
The President sounds cheerful, as he asks, "So, Leo, are you ready to hop the big pond and bring peace of mind to the world at large, this week?"
Leo grunts out, "If you say so, Sir. My bags, I'm sure, have already been whisked to the base and deposited on board Air Force One."
The President looks pleased and tries to ignore the worried look on Abbey's face, at her failed attempts to catch Margaret's eyes. He hopes to succeed where Abbey is failing, "And how about you, Margaret? Are you ready to spend a week being pampered here in the Residence, doing girly things with Abbey?" At her non-response and him getting just the flicker of a glance that she gives as her only concession to being addressed by the President, he gets the acute impression that this is a first. For her to not only be cold to him, but for her to actually treat him as 'Jed' in the West Wing, has the President worried and he tries harder to get her to respond normally. "Please, Margaret, treat my home as your home. Even if it is the White House, feel free to go bare foot, like I love do, though the halls at night." This has the opposite effect than what he expected of cheering her up. He finds this out, at the sound of her small choked back sob, at his mention of home and bare feet. It reminds her that Leo loves to walk barefoot at home.
Leo turns to take her gently in his arms, as he has been very aware of her body language, out of the corner of his eye. He realizes that Margaret resolve is about to break right here and now. His first priority is now her. Their friends will just have to live with it for the moment. Drawing them into a private world of their own, Leo raises one hand to the back of her head, to pull her face to hide against his shoulder. He makes shushing noises to the sniffs he can detect from her, hoping to help her to get a grip on her emotions again. He's worried not only of her being so sad, but he now worries that all the crying she has been doing last night and again this morning cannot be helping her ear infection. The possibility of Margaret getting sicker again, is not helping his sadness of them soon parting or the feeling of worry he has of just being away from her. Some of Margaret's worry habits are wearing off on him, but love can do that to a couple.
Jed is a little hurt and he's at a total loss to why Leo is still upset and why Margaret has been ignoring him, since they entered the Oval Office and is now crying. He looks at Abbey, feeling a little guilty knowing he must be somehow responsible for it. He hopes she understands the reason and can silently convey it to him. Abbey and he obviously have their work cut out for them this week, to get to the bottom of this. For it to be something so wrong, as to cause the couple in front of him to break their own strict protocol with him and especially in this room.
Leo finally takes Margaret gently by the shoulders and pushes her to look up into his face. He gives her a comforting kiss. It is not going to help, as she looks into his compassionate eyes. Margaret swiftly and loudly chocks back a sob. Being so emotional in this situation is finally too much for her and she forgets the First Couple and swiftly leaves the room crying. Heading straight for the safety of Leo's office, closing the door behind her as quietly as she can in her rush.
Leo has a hurt look on his face, showing the pain he feels for both her and for himself. He looks at his door and then the floor, but definitely not at the President, till he can mold his face into his neutral professional look.
Abbey decides that this is a good time for her and Margaret to take her things upstairs to the Residence. She informs the guys of this and goes after Margaret. Leo looks up at Abbey's suggestion, with a small thankful smile to her. He knows he cannot be of any help to Margaret right now. Abbey may be just who and what she needs. Women tend to know how to comfort each other, when life hurts.
Leo's eyes follow Abbey, as she leaves by the same route as Margaret. He finally turns back and gives his friend the President a quick glance, before he shifts his vision to the view out the windows. For himself, he needs a moment to control his tongue, as well, at this time.
The President reads his friend's face and mood, as easily as if he had spoken and moves them to the business of the country, by walking behind his desk. They have matters that they need to tie up, before it's time to say the final goodbyes to the women who just left the room, right before leaving. He knows that parting will not be easy for any of them and he so wants to understand what is going on and make it right. Glancing to his friend to see if he's now focusing on him, he wonders for the briefest moment if Leo will apologize for not calling him last night, but in that same moment he knows that Leo did not forget at all and that it was what made last evening so long for him. It really hurts him that Leo was mad enough at him, to forfeit his regular nightly call to end their day.
Once Abbey and Margaret arrive at the Residence and the door closes to finally give them some privacy, from the stage like atmosphere that seems to follow the First Lady everywhere in the building.
Margaret is sadly holding her case in front of her with a woe begotten look that still remains, after all her effort to move past it on the walk from Leo's office to here. Abbey had given her a pep talk of encouragement and understanding, after she found her crying in front of the window in Leo's office. They move to the small bedroom off the master bedroom to get Margaret settled in.
An hour later, the President and Leo enter the Residence, after a silent and thoughtful walk, as an uneasiness still holds a distance between them and also, in some unspoken way, they still shared an unspoken commiseration at the parting that they are about to take from the women they love more than themselves.
The President call, "Abbey, you two ladies here? Leo and I are about to leave and we came to say goodbye. I need a big hug from my best girl, to last me for the week." He and Leo keep walking right into the master bedroom, assuming that the women are getting Margaret settled in.
Abbey calls out from the small bedroom, "We're in here, Jed. We'll be right out." She gives Margaret one last reassuring squeeze on her arm and a small understanding smile of encouragement, before she turns to proceed her out of the room and to find her husbands arms.
Margaret pauses in the doorway and finds Leo with her glance, before he makes a beeline for him, not looking at the other couple only a few feet away.
Abbey with her face lying over Jed's shoulder sees that Margaret is hesitant to speak, to even Leo, as she's wrapped into his arms. She knows that Margaret is still having a hard time of putting on a brave face at the men leaving. Abbey pulls Jed over by the bed to cuddle a few minutes.
Still standing, Jed leans sits back onto the footboard and with Abbey between his knees, he hugs her tight. The First Couple is used to the separations due to their duties and have been together for so many years that they are strong and secure in their relationship. Not that parting is comfortable or mundane for them. Seeing Leo and Margaret's difficulties in dealing with a separation for the first time in their relationship, brings back memories of earlier separations in their own relationship, but now they both are confident that the security around them has been assured by the best in the country.
This maneuver of Abbey's gives Margaret and Leo more
privacy for the few minutes that are available for their goodbyes. Margaret gently tugs on Leo's lapels to move
him farther back into the room that they shared last August. This 'is' the first time they'll be apart
for any length of time, since they began seeing each other. They have only been parted for a few hours
at a time, in the last eight months. Almost like newlyweds. Even though she knows Leo will be safe,
Margaret is a little teary even with her best efforts. She breathes a soft, "Oh, Leo, I miss you
already." She steals a glance at the First
Couple out in the other room, to reassure herself that she'll not be
overheard. "I hope I won't be missing
you on Sunday. I so want to end our
first year in your arms, like I am right now."
Margaret ends with a catch in her voice. Being apart would be bad enough but their emotions are just more
heightened by their special day, the one that only they know about.
Leo's heart tightens right along with his arms, as he pulls her even tighter to
his chest. They both seem to be a
little weak legged and he moves them over to sit on the bed. He is so afraid to leave her like this, but
he has no choice. They have no choice
and that is just the way it is. He whispers
in her ear, "Baby, I'll miss you too this week and I'll check in with you
often. I promise." From where he's sitting, he can see that the
First Couple is having a passionate goodbye kiss. Leo needs little other encouragement. He turns Margaret slightly to remove them from his line of
vision, assuring both couples of more privacy.
He cups Margaret's face in his hands and his love for her is shining in
his eyes. "Love, give me a kiss me to
last me, till I see you again."
Margaret twines her arms fully behind his neck, pulling him tightly to her and complies to his wish with a willing passion. They both honestly know that in their world, it may just be in the next world when they kiss again, when it comes to partings. They both want the other to be reminded now and forever, just how deep their love is for the other.
When they finally and sadly need to break the seal that their lips have, Leo whispers with his lips still only a fraction for hers, "I love more than life itself. Take care of yourself and get well. You are my life."
Loving the sound of his rumbling voice with his endearments, Margaret breathes back to him, " I love you too. Please, come back to me as soon as you can. You know, you are my life." She touches the side of his face gently and he leans into her to for a last moment.
Leo and Jed can see each other through the open doorway, if they care to, so Leo glances out to gage how much time is left. After he sees the way Jed and Abbey are kissing, he's reminded of the couple's many boasts that they really don't need a bed. With the passion that they are displaying, Leo can believe that 'up against the wall' will work just fine for his friends. He hopes they don't forget where they are or that they're not alone. They need to leave shortly, and Jed and Abbey give the impression that they have no idea where or how passionate they are, just that for the moment they are together. Leo wonders if he may need to shut the door, but quickly thinks, to hell with the door. If they want to act like this is a double date, in a car, at the drive-in movie, fine. I'm not leaving Margaret's arms for a single moment of the time we have left, before I absolutely have to and I certainly know just how to keep us busy, till the President is ready to leave. This has to last us for a long time.
He leans them back to half recline on the bed. Their own passionate kissing is soon a combination of sweet and romantic ones, but with the edge of frantic and hungry quality to them. Leo and Margaret are trying to use every moment they have, to share as much of their love as possible, as they caress each other, as much as they can fully clothed. Both are willing and wishing for time to slow down, as they murmur tender endearments to each other.
Leo and Margaret quickly get carried away and before they know it, they hear Jed interrupt them from his vantage point half sitting on the footboard of the Presidential bed. Abbey is still in his arms, breathing as hard as he is, trying to catch her breath.
"Leo." Once Jed interrupts them, he's afraid that he did something else wrong and is immediately sorry he did. Usually Leo is the one to get them out the door on time.
Leo and Margaret jump apart, when the President interrupts them. Leo quickly turns away, as he gets up and buttons his coat to cover up his reaction to his impromptu necking with Margaret. Leo takes a steadying breath, as he takes one step back away from her. He knows the time has come to leave. His eyes finally break away from hers and glance to the President now standing at the doorway, "Sir?"
Jed replies to Leo, "Yeah." He knows that Leo understands that their time is over with the women. Turning to Abbey, who is standing in his wake, he gives her a quick peck to her forehead, as a last goodbye and she pats him softly on the chest, almost as a prayer.
Leo knows that his friend knows he wants to give her a final fleeting kiss. Unable to waste the last chance to do so, he gently places one hand to cup her face. Leo leans to Margaret for one last, hard kiss, near the corner of her cheek. It is his seal, to his promise, to move heaven and earth to be back for their special day.
The men break away from the women, as if on cue. The moment of leaving is here.
Margaret is teary, but more resolved to Leo leaving, she knows and hates that he's upset, because she's upset. Holding onto his index finger, hating to break her last physical contact with him, she follows Leo out into the master bedroom. Sadly dropping the last touch she has on him at the doorway, she wraps her arms around her waist and Abbey moves to her side.
The President has one last chance of getting Margaret to show some response to him, but his concerned puppy look is not returned. Her eyes are locked on the carpet, her arms crossed and her hands clamped to her sides. She still cannot look him in the eye and ignores Jed's silent plea to understand, she just focuses on his shoe tips in front of her. Jed is again a little hurt and he looks at Abbey, reiterating his plea to her to be successful in getting to the root of the mysterious problem.
Abbey gives him a soft reassuring smile, remembering their plan. She wraps her arm around Margaret's waist and then directs her smile to Leo, to reassure him that she'll make sure Margaret will be fine. The men both nod in unison at her assurance to them.
Leo clears his throat to get Margaret to look at him, needing to read her eyes one last time. As their eyes connect, he cocks his head to the side and gives her his best impish grin that he knows she just loves. Margaret gives him a watery smile in return. Determined to send him off with smile.
The men both stride away at the same time for the door and swiftly leave the room to descend to the lawn, where Marine One, is waiting to take them to Air Force One.
A few minutes later, the women watch the lawn from the Residence window, arms around each other's waists, hugging in mutual sadness. Sharing a sad fearful moment that only a few women in the world understand. A string of terrible scenarios make a rapid run through their heads and are just as quickly vanquished, not wanting to tempt the fates. The two commanding men after crossing the lawn stop to wave to the crowd and up to them, before ducking into the powerful helicopter. In their eyes, they are still simply, just the men they love.
To be continued in Part 4 of 10 (hopefully)
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blessings
chipmunk aka: Betty Lou Riley
Imp aka: Lynn Jessome
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Posted 07-15-04