Title: Apartment 1/8 Daylight Series Leo Cooking 9/?
By: chipmunk
Pairing: Leo/Margaret
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: None
This is AU, doesn't matter the year or the situation.
Beta and Mentor 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, '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: Margaret gets a notice that she has to move and Leo wants to add his opinion to the new apartment's requirements.
Note: At this point in the series, it is assumed that Leo/Margaret and Josh/Donna are couples. They are casually touching, trading endearments and swapping spit. This fic helps it define the relationship within the couples.
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It's 10:15 Friday evening and Margaret arrives at her apartment to find a bright pink notice taped to her door. The same notice that's on all the other doors of this floor in her building. After she removes the notice from the door, she reads it as she is unlocking to let herself in.
~Oh, no, not already?~ Her mind's in a whirl, ~I can't do this now. It's a really bad time at work. We're so swamped. Leo will chew out me so bad for letting this creep up and catch me by surprise. I can't take my vacation time now for this.~ She drops her stuff from work on the top of the desk and moves over to flop onto the couch, with a dejected sigh. A few quiet tears escape and slide down her cheek, as she rereads the notice:
Dated June 1.
'Occupant, this final notice is to advise you, the tenant, that all tenants must vacate their apartment no later than 30 days of this notice. Prior notice was given at the first of the year. Prior notice stated that each floor of this building was being remodeled and as each floor was ready to start construction, occupants would be expected to vacate upon final 30-day notice. All occupants were required to acknowledge and did comply, in writing, to said prior notice.'
~How can it be so soon! I know that they started with the top floor, but I didn't notice much construction going on. I've been at work longer in the evenings, these last few months. I guess that the workers were here during the daytime, so that's probably why I didn't notice them as much. Good thing Leo's fond of me now, but he may still kill me. This is the last thing that we need to deal with now. First, I didn't tell him at the beginning of the year, since we had a lot to deal with at work with the new people coming into Office in January. Second, I thought that I'd have more time till they got down to my floor. Finally, third, I was so happy that Leo was feeling at home here that moving was the last thing on my mind. ~She starts to worry at the ramifications of moving. ~I'm going to need time off to 'quickly' hunt for a new apartment and to pack up everything after I find a place. Not to mention, the move itself. One good thing, is that I cleaned out all the closets and drawers at Christmas time, so I could give the things I didn't need to charity. That should help cut down on some of the packing.~ She earnestly sends up a prayer. ~Oh, God, help me. I'm going to need it. Just 'when' will I find time to pack. I may have to give up sleeping altogether.~ Still looking at the notice, like it'll give her the answers that she's needing, the tears start to slide quietly down her cheeks again and now she's feeling a little sorry for herself at this point. She has the worst luck and with the worst timing. While Margaret sits in her living room trying to figure out a way to accomplish all the things she needs to do, she just gets sadder thinking of the impossibility of this 'ever' having a good ending. She reminds herself, ~I found this apartment just by 'sheer luck', right before we started working in the White House, after the election.~ She sighs, since she's aware also of the fact, ~That's when there was a change in the administration staff in DC and they were all moving. Now it's midterm for most of the officials and the chance that an apartment that's close to my work coming available will be scarce. Oh help! What will I do.~ She thinks of this new obstacle trying not to be overwhelmed. ~I can't move farther out from work, I'll never get to go home and sleep. I'll have to start sleeping in my car.~
She hears a key in the door and her heart drops. She's not going to get a chance to form a strategy for telling Leo this bit of news. He's walking in the door.
Leo steps in and works at shutting the door behind him. He's having trouble getting his key out of the door, since his hands are filled with bags of groceries to get into the apartment. He's aware of Margaret on the couch, but is not really looking at her in his trouble. He's not noticing that she has a problem. He immediately starts talking, "Hey, Margaret, I know it's a little late to fix dinner, but actually for us, 10pm is an early evening out of the office. I took the chance that you would be nice and let me use the kitchen to cook." He continues right on, "If you were planning on catching up on sleep, I'll be quiet and leave you some leftovers." He's sounding like he's doing an imitation of Margaret's rattling pattern of speech, at this point. When she doesn't answer him, yes or no, about him using the kitchen, he sets the groceries on the floor and moves over to the couch to see what Margaret's looking at in her hand. He leans over the coffee table to look at her more closely, since she's so quite and that's not natural for Margaret. She looks up at him with a woe-begotten look on her face.
"Margaret, you look like you just lost your best friend," he quietly states, like she can't deny it. He's concerned about what put it there and how to get that look off her face.
"No, Leo. I'm hoping that my best friend just now walked through the door," she hopefully answers him.
He smiles, "That would definitely be me then." He drops a kiss on her forehead. "So, Margaret, what's wrong, maybe I can help," he wants to take action, first thing. He sits down on the couch next to her, puts an arm around her and gently kisses her temple, to reassure her that he means it. She leans into him and hands him the notice. After he reads it, he knows what's wrong and he gives her a kiss on the top of her head this time. He can tell that she's really upset by the notice and he wants her to be reassured that it'll not affect their new relationship. He then tilts her face up and kisses her on the lips to confirm how he feels about her. She shyly grins in understanding. She then tells him about the remodeling project the building has to covert all the apartments into two bedrooms. With three apartments on each side of the floor, they're tearing out the middle apartment, dividing and adding it onto the two on either side.
"So, now you know, Leo. I have to quickly look for a new place and it's going to be impossible for several reasons," she's reviewing them in her head and he can see her concentrating to organize them. Sometimes, he finds that fascinating to watch.
"Wait, before you start listing impossible reasons; lets stop, take a breather and just think about it. First, I'll fix dinner before we starve. Second, I think you need a quick bubble bath." He's used to giving orders and right now he senses that Margaret needs someone else to make the decisions." To reassure her he advises, "Don't worry, just soak. We'll sound out some of the pros and cons. We'll work out a plan." He even warns her, "Just don't go off the deep end about moving." He's sorry if she took that last remark as a growl, "I know that at work it's crazy right now. It never gets any better. We'll work this out. As the COS office, we do manage to run the whole White House after all." He makes this last statement to appeal to her logical thinking.
Margaret really smiles for the first time since arriving home. "Sounds like a good advice, Leo. That's my kind of plan, Leo. You have a plan that involves a bubble bath and strategy. I don't think you learned that in the Sit. Room," she teases him.
"Nah, Fritz won't share his bubble bath soap, not even with Nancy," he jokes to her, happy to see her smiling.
Margaret smiles wider at that thought. "Oh, Leo, you make me feel so much better. I'd have been a wreck all night, if you hadn't come over."
"Good, I'll go change while you get some unmentionables from your room." He gets that playful leering look in his eye. "I could help you with that, if making decisions is going to be a problem for you tonight." He has a hopeful look on his face, at the end of his offer.
"Leo, you're still pushing your luck aren't you." She shoves him over on the couch, as he laughs at the fake mad look on her face.
He stays leaning over because he's weak with laughter and he knows she's just going to shove him again, as he continues to tease her. "I'll even help you to choose which scent of bubble bath to use and I can scrub your back for you." She goes ahead and shoves on him again, as he's earned it. He adds, just to really finish her off, "Really, I'm good at decisions. Just ask the President of the United States." He sounds like that really is a good thing.
"If I ask him, he'll just make a presidential order for you to help me with my entire bath," she's got them figured out already.
"What are best friends for, Margaret? Him and you 'are' my best friends." He's laughing more, as she now whacks him with the throw pillow
"Yeah, you two can be a real riot, throwing around presidential perks," she's just letting him know that she's not in the dark, where the two guys are concerned. She's really enjoying the fun they're now having together. Leo would never be this open and relaxed in front of other people.
"We have to have some fun at the White House," at this point he's starting to sound like Josh again. Sometimes she wonders, if his claiming Josh as a son is wearing off on Leo, or vise-versa. She may have to keep a closer eye on Josh and confer with Donna.
"Some of them, Leo, I don't even want to know about. I'm going to go to my room and get my things. All by myself, I might add. So, you better get moving and get changed. You promised to fix dinner while I'm soaking, Leo," reminding him that he's there for a reason. She puts a hand on the upper side of his hip, to push herself up off the couch, since he's still half lying down.
Leo sets up and stands, only after Margaret's away from the couch and it's safe for him to move. He throws the pillow to the end of the couch. Margaret had left it lying on top of him, where she whacked him with it. Grinning, he then heads to the bathroom to change into his casual clothes. A short time later he's putting his suit on a hanger in the bathroom closet as Margaret enters through the half open door. Neither feels uncomfortable sharing the room, since Leo has his jeans and t-shirt on. Margaret moves to start the warm water in the tub. She doesn't ask his advice as she adds her liquid bath soap and the scent of raspberries fills the air. Leo's now sitting on the stool in bare feet, watching Margaret and smiling at her familiar tasks, while he starts to put on his thick white socks. "Not in a hurry for your bath, are you Margaret or did you change your mind about me helping to scrub your back?" He knows that his sarcasm will really 'get' to her and will make her blush at the same time!
"Leo, you were dressed decent when I came in here and I suggest you remember how to do your magic quick change trick, as you're just about to get thrown out of here," she warns him.
"I'm going. I'm going. You're not being any fun about this," he tries sounding disappointed, but the deep chuckle in his voice gives him away.
"Leo, OUT!" She always seems to need to say that when they find themselves in the bathroom together. She's now given up worrying about what sentences might slip out at work, since the senior staff knows about them being a couple.
"I said I'm going, you're giving me the bums rush again. The bath is all yours, 'dear'. I'll just go to the kitchen and see if I can keep us from starving," he's being sarcastic again, with a grin. As he starts to shut the door behind him, he turns back and offers, "Yell, if you need any help." He chuckles as she throws her bath puff at him as the door is quickly closed.
Leo checks what he bought at the grocery store and is glad that he picked up some ready cooked, grilled chicken breast. He knew he was running late this evening. He really likes to prepare the vegetables fresh. ~I'll fix one of our favorite fast pasta meals with the grilled chicken on the side. She'll be pleased with that, as long as she has the vegetables fresh cooked.~ He unpacks the last of the produce and starts to clean and chop them. Humming to himself, he contemplates how they are going to achieve finding her a new apartment. He starts to smile big as a thought accrues to him. ~We could look for a bigger kitchen and dinning room in the new apartment. Now, just to convince Margaret that it'll be worth the extra rent.~ He shakes his head at his next realistic thought. ~I swear, she'd live in a cheap cardboard box, if D.C. were in a warmer climate. Over the years, I have had to watch that she doesn't take her frugal nature too far. Wonder what else would be nice to have at the new place?~ He continues to make a mental list as he fixes their dinner.
Margaret's just dressed when Leo calls from the kitchen, "You done in there, or did you drown? I get to do CPR, remember, if you do. Dinner's just about ready for the table. I won't laugh if you're really wrinkled all over, from soaking so long in the bubbles." He knows that she won't be able to resist tearing him for that last remark and that should speed her to the table.
Margaret doesn't disappoint Leo. She arrives momentarily with her head in a towel and wearing her short satin floral robe; the robe that drives Leo crazy. "Leo, I'll have you know, the only thing on me that is wrinkled is my palms of my hands and the soles of my feet." She raises her foot backwards to show him, which just emphasizes how short the robe is. "See these wrinkles will go away, not like some of the wrinkles you have," she grins cheekily at him. He takes a quick breath and gives a sigh, as he looks at her bare legs and feet. He's really glad that he has a steady hand, since he's holding both dinner plates, on his way to the table.
To cover how she's affecting him, he replies to her playful insult, "You said you liked the lines on my face. You said that they make me look distinguished."
"I do like your wrinkles," she turns and leans in-between the dinner plates, which he's still holding. "I like this one," and places a small kiss on the side his face. "This one'" and places a small kiss on other side of his face. "And especially the ones on your forehead," as she kisses them also. She's boldly being a tease to him and he totally loves it. She knows she's safe from retaliation since his hands are full, so she then slips out of reach and sets down in her chair for Leo to set dinner in front of her. He sets her plate down and enjoys that she smells like raspberries and has her head in a towel. She has a huge smile on her face, as pay back can be hell for Leo now.
"You did that just now on purpose while my hands were full." He says with a grin, to get a little dig in at her. "I really like that short robe. I think I mentioned that the last time I saw you in it. I know you wear it, just to give my heart a work out." He knows that he can get her blush to come out. He also knows he loves coming here to spend time with her.
It works! Margaret now is looking at her plate and not at him, with a nice deep blush on her face.
Refusing to grant him a reply, as she will save the robe remark for review later when she's alone, she starts the dinner conversation as Leo sits down. "You said we'd talk about finding me a new apartment over dinner."
"Ok, Margaret, lets get some of the facts lined out. First, this not your fault, but it's going to happen, so we just need a plan. What are some of the facts we need to keep in mind as we look for the apartment?" He's letting her know right up front that he is going to help in her decision. "What's some of the most important factors to you?"
She seriously considers, "Well, Leo, due to type of job I have and the hours we put in, I'd say the most important factor would be location. I can't be 20 minutes away or I'm going to be sleeping in my car a lot. I got this place, close to work, on a fluke."
" You're right, Margaret, that would definitely be a major point to keep in mind. So, location is first." He starts their mental list, as they start eating their dinner. After enjoying a few bites of the pasta meal, to keep them from starving. He continues, "What next, do you want to consider?"
"Well, Leo, you know how I am, the price and security are big factors." Margaret then adds, Getting a one-bedroom apartment is preferred, because I hate studio apartments. Makes you feel like your living in a box."
"Ok, just what do you pay for this apartment, he asks, not to be nosey about her finances,
so we have something to use a guideline.
"
She knows he can probably find out what her paycheck is for, if he doesn't know already. She takes the question at face value and reveals, "I pay $1400.00 a month and that includes the water, electric and trash." Quickly adding, "The phone, cable and Internet are optional and I pay for those. I do have a parking space. In this building, this is one of the higher one-bedroom apartments, but they have a few higher with a laundry closet in them. I have to do my laundry in the basement, at the public laundry." She wants to give him all the parameters they need to consider.
"So, you want something similar," he asks as a statement. Trying not to sound like he's rewriting a bill for congress, "Do you know anything you want to add?" He wants her to list what she wants, before he adds in his opinion.
"Just the laundry closet, if possible. It would save me some time, which we have precious little of after work," she's trying to rationalize the need and the additional expense.
"Ah, Margaret, now can I add some ideas to consider? You can take them or leave them, as it is your apartment that we'll be looking for," he decides it's time for him to put in his ideas.
"Ok, I'll try to keep an open mind! But, I'll have to make the final decision. Leo, I'm going to be paying the rent there," she warns him that she's in charge of the final decision.
"All right, Margaret, remember you promised to keep an open mind and don't say anything till I get done," he warns her in return. "I think it would be nice if you got a little larger kitchen and maybe a small dining area, like here, that's not in the kitchen. I like eating away from the stove." She smiles at his request that's mainly for his benefit.
"I might consider that." She sees the stern look on his face. "I'm sorry, you weren't done."
"Ok, it's a given that I think a larger kitchen might be nice, but you promised to hold your opinion till I was finished. He jumps right in, so he can see if she's willing to consider his next option, "It would be nice to have an extra bedroom, also. Wait," he holds up a hand to halt her reply. "'Not' for us to be roomies!" He pretends to be shocked, holding his hand on his chest. "Don't deny that's what just crossed your mind. I can read it on your face." He continues as she blushes, "For office use, Margaret and it would be an extra closet for me to leave my clothes in." He holds up his hand again to stop her answer. 'Before you complain about the price, I'd like to add, that I'd be willing to pay for the extra room."
Margaret can't help it she's going to burst, "Leo, you can't pay me rent, the press would have a field day!!! I would look like you were keeping me, if you know what I mean," she finishes this last sentence in a stage whisper, like a reporter will hear her. She studies her plate as she's embarrassed at what she just implied.
He laughs at her fear of discovery, "Margaret, the press is not going to know. I'll just give you cash at work and you add it to your rent money. But the real answer that I want to know about is: Are you willing to look for a two-bedroom apartment?" She's looking at him out of the corner of her eye to see if he's serious, while thinking of the pros and cons.
She starts thinking out loud now, "Well, the two bedroom apartments are easier to find. They are in less demand and having your things in a regular closet would better for your suits. We keep wrinkling them." She's trying to logically work this out, "I could put the desk in there with my laptop on it and get a printer stand for my four-in-one-machine."
Now, he goes for the real clincher of this option, "Yeah, and for the real reason I wanted you to consider it is so that I could put a daybed in there for me to use on the few nights I stay over and you could use it for guests. I could pick up one that has drawers under it instead of the trundle bed. So there would be extra storage. Add a small nightstand and the room can be for both uses." Just to sweeten the offer to get her to go for the two-bedrooms, "Margaret, I'll even chip in for the laundry closet, if you let me do my unmentionables in it. I hate the strong bleach the hotel uses and they have lousy softener. See, I do know about normal things!" He knows he'll get a smile out of her for that remark, as she thinks he doesn't know about anything but politics. "I do notice, that when I leave my jeans here, after wearing them, that you have them fresh and clean the next time I'm here. Thank you, Margaret."
How can she say no, when this is the first step he has taken of any kind, to establish himself outside of the hotel. Her dreams are starting to come true. He wants to stake a small area in her apartment. "Yeah, that does sound nice, Leo. You really do need to have a regular bed at night. With your job, you can't afford to have a bad night on the couch. You need your rest every night you can get it. You know you cheat. You're not even going to let me complain about the cost. You want to pay for the extra room." She adds another thought, "The two bedroom apartments are usually a lot nicer set up also, with a separate kitchen not just a kitchen nook." She's weakening and starting to be swayed to accept his idea.
"See, Margaret that might be a nicer option. As for me sleeping in a regular bed, I was fine sharing yours, while we cuddled." He grins at her in remembrance. He continues before he gets into 'real' trouble and she digs her heels in on the idea of the second room. "Like you said, you get precious few hours in the apartment during the week, but we really enjoy it on the weekends. I don't see a problem, unless you're ashamed to have me 'seen' coming and going."
'Leo, that comment 'will' get you into trouble," like I would be ashamed of you for any reason," she says that like, are you kidding. She wouldn't change after all these years.
"I just couldn't resist, Margaret. Now for the press, they haven't bothered us here and when they find out that we're a couple, they're going to say something about me coming here anyway and I really 'do not' care," he sounds like he's ready to take them on. "The press is just going to have to get over it." He leans over to give her a kiss full on the lips, to show her he means it.
Giving into his opinion of the press, since she's going to let him handle them. She gets back into the apartment details, "Leo, that adds to our list of location, two bedrooms and a laundry closet. Most apartments in D.C. now are Internet connection ready, so that would help us for work." She notices his expression changes, "Don't give me that innocent look, Leo McGarry. I admit, you've been trying to keep work away from here, but if it means the difference in you working at the office or working here. I think 'here' would be more restful for you. So, long as we don't put in a full second day here, in the evening, I can make the adjustment." She sets the ground rules, "Just remember, I get to yell at you in the apartment and you yell at me at work." She grins at him, "Deal?"
"Deal," he agrees and adds a condition of his own on work at the apartment. "Only, if I get to bring over a desk top computer, instead of trying to work on your laptop. The computer I need is more secure than yours. Ron Butterfield will make sure of that, so I'll just tell him I need a second one for here and he'll arrange it. I can have him wait till you get you moved to install it. Plus, I'm sure you don't want me messing with your computer and possibly crash it."
"Ron knows that you're regularly spending time here," she asks, with a slightly startled look. It just seems unusual to her somehow, but she knows that they have to keep tabs on Leo, in case of a National emergency. It just never occurred to her, as a factor in Leo being here so much.
"Sure, remember that Abby's detail was here once, with her. Besides, Ron would check with you first if he couldn't find me," he states the obvious.
I'll remember to keep clothes on when you are here then, in case they need to storm the place to retrieve you," she sweetly looks at him.
He gives her a look like, 'that's not funny, Margaret'. It kinda puts a dent in his future plans.
"The computer is fine, Leo. The biggest question right now is, where will I start to look for a new place? When we arrived in D. C. at the start of the administration, you and Jenny had a place. I got this place real quick from someone that, the previous tenants and I both knew. So, I've not really looked in DC for a place to rent before."
"Well, Margaret, I know Mallory started with Rent.com on the Internet, to get an idea of what was available, the prices and options. It's getting late and after your wrinkle remark, I need my beauty sleep. Let's clean this all away from dinner and write out a list of options you're looking for. Tomorrow evening, we'll fire up your laptop and see what we can find. Sooner is better."
"You're right, Leo. My 30 days ends the first of July. I have to be moved in and partly set up by then. You know the President will keep us tied up, all through the first week in July with his 4th barbeque. So I need to hustle for a place immediately."
Cont. Part 2