Chapter 18: The Reception

The wedding ceremony was over and the guest had made their way into the White House for the reception. The pictures were taken and Sam and Ainsley were standing behind the doors of the East Room getting ready to be introduced. Ainsley had taken off her veil and was still barefoot from her shoe incident.

"I love you," said Sam to Ainsley.

"I love you too," replied Ainsley as she kissed him.

"Are you ready to go in?"

"I've been waiting my whole life," and with that, Sam picked up Ainsley and the doors opened. The bridesmaids and groomsmen were throwing flower petals at them as they made their way to the dance floor for their first dance as husband and wife. Ainsley had to have a country song for the first dance and Sam couldn't say "no".

Ordinary no, really don't think so
Not a love this true
Common destiny
We were meant to be
Me and you

The husband and wife seemed perfect together on the dance floor. Sam held her so close, and she wanted to be held close. Neither one wanted the song to end.

Like a perfect scene from a movie screen
Where every dream comes true
Suited perfectly for eternity
Me and you

Sam whispered something into Ainsley's ear that had her give a small smile. People began to join them on the floor, but the blissful couple didn't notice. The song came to an end and the room all cheered. The dancing continued and soon enough, the first course of their southern meal was being served.

The President began the toasting. "I would like to say something about the newlyweds. I was one of the people that saw how their relationship grew to love. We all know the story about Ainsley whipping out Sam during a debate and some people thinks it's strange or awkward to have a strong Democrat marry a strong Republican. Their relationship isn't based on their political views that many people believe it's based on. It's based on friendship, the way the care for each other, their sense of humor, and the future they want to share together. They want to protect each other from danger or make the other smile or blush. It's about how they both want a big family and hopefully careers in what they do best- politics. And most of all it's based on the way they love each other. How they want to be with each other and just hold them in their arms. That's what their relationship is about. Love. To Sam and Ainsley!" Everyone raised their glasses with the President and repeated "Sam and Ainsley!"

Josh and CJ stood up next. Josh said, "CJ and I would just like to say something about the couple of the moment. You can say this is our toast, but we did something different. We wrote a poem about Sam and Ains."

"But wait! There's more!" said CJ excitedly. "We put together a slide show complete with pictures that we found laying around." A white screen came down from the ceiling and a slide came up that said "Sam and Ainsley." "Let's being," declared CJ.

A picture of 10 year-old Ainsley in a frilly pink dress and her hair all curled was projected on the screen. Josh began the poem:

"There once was a girl named Ainsley

Whose family loved the color red.

She also enjoyed food.

But who knew she would work in a office with a bunch of airheads?" The picture of her first day on the job at the White House with the senior staff was shown on the screen.

CJ continued the poem when a picture of a young Sam sitting on the California beach sand.

"There is our beach boy Sam.

He happens to be a blue.

He went to the best law schools

Where he ate lots of fondue." A picture appeared of a twenty-something Sam with a Duke sweatshirt on.

Sam's picture was replaced with another one of him and Ainsley during the debate. Sam looked flustered while Ainsley looked poised. Josh spoke again:

"These people first met during a debate on TV

When Ainsley kicked Sam's ass.

Be grateful the President heard about it,

Or else this girl would be out fishing for a nice big bass." And up came a picture of gawky16 year-old Ainsley making a funny face to the camera while holding up a fish.

The next picture was a cute 4th of July picture just before Sam and Ainsley went on their first date. CJ continued:

"The 4th of July is when the romance began.

But no one thought it would last.

After 15 months of dating delight,

Sam popped the question

Which made Ainsley's eyes so full of light." The picture CJ took when Sam and Ainsley were dancing was shown and the guest "awed" at the warm and fuzzy picture.

Josh finished up the speech with pictures from the wedding rehearsal on the screen.

"So more than one year later,

We come together on this special mayday

As we can't believe our Sam is the first to wed

To a Republican none less.

Let's toast to Sam and Ainsley,

Our favorite newlyweds."

Everyone raised their glasses and cheered at Josh and CJ's poem. "How did you get those pictures?" asked Ainsley to CJ.

"Oh, we have connections," winked CJ.

The dinner was all eaten and the guest had started to make their way to the dance floor. All of the classic love songs were played along with the list of songs Ainsley had made a year before with the staff. Then the band director announced, "We now have a special song for all of the senior staff and for anyone that would like to join them in this dance." The band began to play "The Electric Slide" and all the ladies got excited as they dragged the men out to the floor. Everyone managed to get through the song even though it took him or her awhile to get the hang of it. No one fell, but according to Toby, "We just all made asses of ourselves."

The party continued with Ainsley dancing with the President, Leo, her brothers and the groomsmen. Sam danced with all the ladies and well, who wouldn't want to dance with him? When it was Donna's turn to dance with the groom, Sam had a little talk with her. He asked, "So do you have any idea what you want to do when you get married?"

"Well," blushed Donna, "I would at least like a boyfriend before I think about marriage."

"Every girl thinks about her wedding growing up."

"But now I see how much work Ainsley and you had to go through, I'm eloping."

Sam laughed. It sounded like something Donna would do. "Now about that boyfriend-"

"-Sam!" interrupted Donna. Her face was turning even redder.

"Okay. I'll stop talking." They continued to dance, but when the song was about to end, Sam said, "The One might be right in front of you, Donna."

"It's time for the bouquet and guarder toss!" announced the band director. CJ, Zoey, all the assistants, Donna, and some other ladies gathered on the dance floor. Ainsley spotted Donna over her right shoulder and launched the bouquet right at her. Ainsley shut her eyes and prayed that Donna caught the flowers. She heard a scream of excitement and knew that Donna caught it.

The ladies cleared the floor for the bachelors to catch the guarder. Ainsley took a seat in the chair and raised her fluffy dress up.

The President whispered in Sam's ear, "It works better when you use your teeth."

"Yes, Sir," said Sam as he went on his knees to take off the guarder. He stood up with a lacey blue guarder in his mouth. He waved it around his head then flung it towards Josh. Ed and Larry "attempted" to catch it, but they really just swatted it to Josh. Once Josh caught it, he dropped it once he realized who caught the bouquet.

"Do I really have to do this?" asked Josh to Sam.

"Look at her Josh, what guy wouldn't want to put a guarder on those legs?" replied Sam.

Josh walked over to Donna who was sitting in the chair with her dress pulled slightly up. Josh tried so hard to not make eye contact with Donna when he put the guarder on, but he finally looked up at her once the guarder was in place. He swore time stopped as he saw her blue eyes looking into his. Donna heard Sam's voice in her head, "The One might be right in front of you, Donna." Josh leaned forward and gave her a brief kiss. "Would you like to dance?" whispered Josh.

"Yes, Josh," said Donna as he pressed her lips together, trying to remember the tingly feeling that was left on her lips.

The crowd cheered as Josh helped Donna up from the chair. The band began to play Donna's requested song of "My Heart Goes On" as Josh took Donna into his arms. "Of course the band on to play your favorite song now," grinned Josh.

Sam looked at Ainsley and asked, "Did you tell the band to play this song at this exact moment?"

Ainsley couldn't hide the smile. "Yeah."

"Good idea," smiled back Sam.

"Spanky!" yelled CJ. "You haven't danced with me yet." CJ pulled Sam to the dance floor while Ainsley watched Josh and Donna dance.

The night was coming to an end as some people began to make their way home. Sam and Ainsley thanked everyone for coming one last time before they went to their limo that would take them home to change and then to the airport for the honeymoon in Disneyworld. The guests followed them to the limo to wave good-bye. When the reached their car, the couple gasped. It was covered in corny decorations! The windows were painted with "Just Married" or "Congratulations Sam and Ainsley!". Toilet paper was tied all around the car, which made it flap in the wind. The newlyweds' mouths dropped as the immediately looked at their bridesmaids and groomsmen. They looked back at them and smiled.

"It took us hours," said Toby who thought about how much time was wasted working on it.

"I love it!" exclaimed Ainsley as she hugged everyone. "We'll see you in a week."

"Have fun in Disneyworld," said Nicole as she hugged her little sister.

Sam shook the President's hand. "I promise to bring back souvenirs. And call if something happens."

"We'll be fine without you two," assured the President. "Go have a fun honeymoon. Remember, I expect grandchildren one day."

"Yes, Sir," blushed Sam. "Thank you for everything." Sam turned to Ainsley. "Ready?"

"Yeah," smiled Ainsley. She turned to her family and friends. "Bye! We promise we'll come back!" Sam opened the limo's door for Ainsley and her went in behind her.

Inside the limo Sam kissed Ainsley. "I love you."

"I love you too."

The End.