Title: Leo Cooking –Margaret and the Bubble Bath Daylight series 4/?
By: chipmunk
Pairing: Leo/Margaret
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: None
Beta By: Lee pigletnpooh@comcast.net
Disclaimer:
The characters are from the NBC, WB, A John Wells Prod., TV show, 'The West Wing'.
They own them; therefore, they do not belong to me.
They are the creation and property of Aaron Sorkin. I only borrowed them.
No copyright infringement is intended. No monetary benefit is received or anticipated.
Please keep in mind that, 'Imitation is the highest form of flattery'.
A 'grateful' and 'enormous' thanks, to the actors and actresses,
who portray the characters brilliantly and bring them to life in my head.
Any mistakes found in this fic, are totally my own fault and ignorance.
This is a learning process for me. Additions and Corrections are encouraged.
Feedback: I would love it hear your opinion! PLEASE! It helps to improve my writing!
Archived at:
Summary: Leo shows up to cook on a Saturday night and Margaret is having a 'beauty' night
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It is a Saturday night and Margaret is home at the decent hour of 8pm. This is the first time in a month she has had the opportunity to indulge herself. She's planning on spending the whole evening on pampering herself. At the moment, she has just stepped into a warm tub of wonderful bubbles. She sinks down into the heady sent of raspberry and dreamily closes her eyes, ready to enjoy a long soak. Just then when she thinks nothing is wrong in the world. Her front door slams closed. She listens wide-eyed till She hears Leo calling for her, as he advances into the Living room, of her apartment. Her eyes check the half open bathroom door with a worried glance and answers to Leo. "I'm in the Bathroom, but I'm not decent," with a voice that gets softer as she says it. She slides lower into the bubbles as she hears him approach.
Leo stops at the door and can just see her head, over the bubbles, in the mirrors reflection. "Hi, Margaret, I see you are enjoying yourself right now," he comments with a big smile on his face. Loving the deep blush on her face, he adds, "It really smells nice in here with all the candles around the bathroom and whatever scent your using for your bubbles."
"It's raspberry, Leo, and take that 'huge' smile off your face. This is my night, for me." He just laughs at her, he knows she's trying to sound pissed, when she's really so embarrassed. Because he 'is' laughing, she adds as an after thought, "I just might have to confiscate back my spare key."
He's still grinning as he holds up a grocery sack in one hand and his clothes satchel in the other. If I can stay, I'll go fix us some dinner. I brought fresh vegetables."
She pauses to give the impression that she's considering his offer. "OK, you can stay, but I'm not changing my evening plans. Very seldom, do you get us out of the office in time for me pamper myself," she points out right up front.
"That's fine with me. I know where the kitchen is. Be warned Margaret. Don't fall asleep in there and drown. I'd have to pull you out and give you CPR," said with a laugh in his voice. He doesn't sound like he would mind rescuing her.
"Close the 'door' Leo," she calls loudly, just as he's leavening to put the groceries in the kitchen.
"Sure thing, Margaret," he complies with a huge smile, as he steps closer to grab the doorknob.
"Leo, don't come any farther in here," she warns from the tub.
He just gives her a deep chuckle as he shuts the door. In the kitchen, he looks at his clothes bag. He tells himself, ~Margaret's not going to relinquish the bathroom any time soon and I want to change into my casual clothes.~ Smiling to himself. ~Well there's no other option, but to change in Margaret's bedroom. She can have a fit if she wants, about me invading her private room, if she wants.~ He then slips past the closed bathroom door and into the bedroom.
As Margaret immerges from the bathroom nearly an hour later, she can hear him rattling around and humming to himself in the kitchen. ~Leo, happy enough to be humming, it is still fascinating to me. He really loves to work in a kitchen. How can I be upset with him for showing up unannounced?~ She heads to the kitchen to see what's on the menu tonight. She notices that Leo's wearing his usual cooking clothes of t-shirt and jeans. ~I wonder where he changed. I don't see his clothes bag. I just bet he went into my room and changed. Oh, Help. How am I going to sleep in there tonight, knowing he was undressing in there earlier?~
Leo became aware of Margaret in the kitchen by the wonderful smell that preceded her. H turns to check her out. She looks fresh and he likes the way she smells of raspberries. Her hair must still be damp, as she has it wrapped up in a towel. ~ Man, it's been a long time since I been around a female, with her head in a towel. Jenny always had her hair done professionally. I remember that Mallory always had her head in a towel, as a teenager, when I got home late from work. I almost forgot what Mallory's hair looked like dry, back then. I don't think Margaret looks like a teenager tonight, in what 'little' she's wearing.~ He watches her at the doorway, as she hesitates to enter the kitchen. He really appreciates the mid-thigh, satin robe she's wearing. The floral pattern reminds him of her bedroom décor. ~Better not mention that to Margaret just yet. It's nice to smell the sweet scents in the air after a female has emerged from the bathroom. Smells homey.~
"So, Leo, what are you preparing for dinner tonight," she's trying to sound casual, so he doesn't see she's nervous about wearing a short robe. ~This is the only nice robe I have. My long robe is an old bulky chenille that I wear when I'm sick. He's not going to see me in that.~
Margaret steps across the kitchen, to check out what's in the large sauce pan on the stove. That's when Leo breaks out laughing hysterically, tears are practically running from his eyes and he's having trouble catching his breath.
"What's so funny, Leo," she looks at him, like he as finally slipped around the bend. ~His job has finally gotten to him and he's lost it. What'll I do with him, if he has?~ "Leo, I asked what's so funny."
"Margaret, 'what' are you wearing on you feet," he gasps out as he's trying to control his laughing.
"Glad you like them, Leo. I didn't know you'd derive such humor from my slippers," she remarks with dry sarcasm.
"They're bunny slippers. Really, Margaret, Bunny slippers?" Trying not the break out laughing again and wiping his eyes, he sags weakly against the counter. He gets back in control by telling himself. ~She has that 'I'm going ring your neck, 'look' on her face. If I don't quit, she might take action.~ "I didn't think they were made, big enough, for an adult," he just could not resist adding.
"I could take one off and beat you with it. Then you would find out that they're adult size. Do 'not' make fun of my slippers. I like them. They're as close as I'm going to get to having pets, since I'm always living in apartments," she defends her right to have them.
"Alright, Margaret, I'll not make fun of your slippers." He hesitates and has a gleam in his eyes. "Do you have names picked out for them," he says this as he doubles over again with laughter.
Margaret takes the bait and grabs off a slipper, then proceeds to whack him softly on the back. He's laughing and also trying to ward of her attack. The whole time sh'is grinning at the fun they are having, teasing each other. ~I should be really mad at him for teasing me, but this is so good to see Leo laughing like this. I bet he hasn't had a good, side aching laugh in years. I know I haven't had this much fun in a long time. This is just good for the soul.~
"Are you going to say, you're sorry yet," she teases him right back.
"Ok, OK, I'm sorry. I apologize to the bunnies." The laughter is still in his voice, he's trying to sound serious.
"You better be sorry, these are dangerous bunnies," she says as she lets him off the hook, for the insult to her footwear.
Getting serious, while holding his sides and straightening up to catch his breath, he answers her first question about what he fixed for their dinner. "I fixed us a simple vegetable soup, with beef broth and a few herbs that I added to the fresh vegetables. I didn't know when you were going to be done in the bathroom. He looks her full in the eyes, I do like the results you achieved," he added to make peace. "Lets eat, before you do any more bodily harm to me," he can't resist as a parting shot and moves to the stove.
"You're in luck, I love vegetable soup. It's a cool night, so it'll be perfect for dinner," she approves.
After they've eaten all that they can hold, they quickly clean up the kitchen and Margaret stores the leftovers for tomorrow. Leo quietly states, "I better get over to the hotel. I have some reports to read tonight and I might as well get started," he figures the short evening is over.
"Do you have the reports with you," she inquires and hoping he has them in the car.
" I do. Why?" He questions.
"Well, I'm only going to give myself a manicure and polish my nails. Things I do just sitting around the house. I usually just play music and enjoy a peaceful evening. You could read here and watch the news later, before you have to go back the hotel," she reasons out for him.
"Sounds good to me, if I won't be interrupting your beauty session," he agrees smiling again.
"No, Leo, you won't be a bother. Your welcome to stay here awhile," she reassures him.
A short while later finds them, each on their end of the couch. He has his glasses sitting down on his nose and is reading by the lamp light over his shoulder. Of course, he has several files spread out over his half of the coffee table too. Margaret's happily filing her nails and has her polishes and other items lined up on the edge of her end, of the coffee table. They look like and an ordinary couple settled in for the evening. To complete the atmosphere, she's put in a cd of soft guitar music. ~I couldn't be happier, if I won a million dollars. You just can't buy this kind of contentment,~ she dreams to herself.
Out of the corner of his eye, he watches Margaret polishing her nails and the astonishing part is that he never knew she polished her toenails. A nice, bright red. ~I'm not going to be able to look at her sensible shoes at work again and not think of those red toenails.~ He smiles to himself and doesn't care if Margaret sees how content he is to just be here, spending quiet time with her. ~I know, I feel better when she's around me at the office, it has an empty feeling in the air, when she's out of the office on errands, but being here in her home, is like a sanctuary from the stress of the White House, that we deal with everyday. Maybe this is how she copes, with me, day in and day out. All I know is, I'm glad to be here tonight. She might get tired of me, but I'm going to avail myself of her hospitably whenever I can get the time.~
The news comes on and Leo scans several channels as he start to gather up his files.
"Thanks for having me around this evening, even if you did try to beat me off with a ferocious bunny slipper," he's grinning at her and at the memory they made.
With a gentle smile on her face she responds, "Leo, I would never beat you away. I may have to get a deadbolt for the door, ~since I do remember getting caught in the tub earlier.~ I wouldn't ever drive you off," she has a serious tone to her voice.
"Did you get all your files and do you have your clothes?" She reminds him.
"Just a minute. I need to get my clothes out of your bedroom,' he finally lets it sip.
"Out of my bedroom? Is that where you changed," she questions him with a little squeak to her voice. ~He better not repeat his prior sentence to the guys at work.~
"Yeah, I like the décor in there, nice soft bed, too," he's teasing her to make her blush, because he loves to see it on her face.
After returning to the living room, he puts on his coat and pick up his bags. Then with a parting remark to Margaret. Just as he's closing the door, he sticks his head back in and wearing a leering smile, compliments her, "I'm really glad, you weren't sensible in buying that short satin robe you're wearing."
She covers her face with both hands. Leo has done it again and she knows her face is blood red with embarrassment. From between her fingers she says, "Good night, Leo!"
The end
p.s. till next Sunday or maybe Saturday
Betty Lou Riley
21th April 2003