Title: Apartment 4/8 Daylight Series 9/?
By: chipmunk
Rated PG-17 It gets a little warmer in this one!!
See disclaimers in Part one
Archived at:
****
Josh swings by the living room, to tell Leo the bath is free, for him to go change now. I'm going to the kitchen, to get the chips and dip, since the girls are taking their time changing." Josh rattles around all the cabinets for two small bowls for the dip and two large bowls to hold the chips. He spies some napkins in a holder and decides that he might as well take them into the living room now. ~Donna will just make me get up and get them later.~ After filling all the bowls and replacing the leftover dip back in the frig., he heads to the living room with his first load. He sets the first set of bowls on the coffee table. ~I haven't spilled anything yet,~ he notes to himself with satisfaction. Leo arrives to see how far he has gotten and what else is needed.
"We better refill the soda and drinks, while we're still up and before the girls get here." Leo recommends and Josh agrees, just to make themselves look efficient.
"I'll get ours, while you refill Margaret and yours." Josh, then lets Leo know what's left in the kitchen, "I still have one more set of bowls to take into the living room and the napkins.
Leo acknowledges and now informs Josh, "OK, but the couch is reserved for Margaret and me. You two can have the recliner." Leo then grins at Josh and points out, "That should be cozy enough for you two." He helpfully adds for the seating arrangements, "Just pull the coffee table over where we can all reach it, for the snacks and to set the drinks on."
"Want to flip for the couch, Leo?" Josh hopefully challenges.
"I'll flip you, Leo threatens. That comfortable couch is strictly reserved. He smiles as he quietly explains. "You need to understand, that's usually my sleeping place when I 'do' get to stay over, so I claim prior rights," Leo puts an end to the debate.
"Ok, Ok, you can't blame me for trying, that couch looks wonderful." Josh admits he amazed, "I didn't know you could get one the that large."
"Margaret says it's the one piece of furniture, that she really lives on and she didn't care how much it cost." Leo notes the look of disbelief that Josh is wearing on his face, since Margaret's frugal tendencies are legendary at work. "Now, that's a statement, coming from Margaret." Leo confirms.
The guys make the final, getting all the needed snacks finally into the living room and settle in to wait on the females to arrive. Leo's surfing the channels looking for news to keep them occupied till the movie starts.
****
The girls soon arrive and they walk in acting casual and innocent. Watching for the reaction from the guys, on the loungewear they have on. "Hey, Josh, did you get the snacks in here, without spilling anything?" Donna asks, really to get his attention, she can see the bowls on the coffee table.
"Sure…" He stops speaking as he notices what Donna's wearing and she seems to glide across the floor in the satin pants, and tight top. The room must have just got warmer, since he's having a little trouble catching his breathe. With his voice a little unsure sounding, "Nice lounge clothes you got on, Donna." He sweeps a pleased glance up and down what she has on. "You could have worn them when we were dancing," he makes a belated suggestion.
"Josh, if I was wearing this outfit, then you would have wanted slow music and you were 'so' enjoying the fast surfer music." She taunts him, that he missed the opportunity. His dimples really appear for her, when he grins at the thought of slow dancing with her in that outfit.
"I may just have to find us some time later, for the slow music," he plans his strategy out loud to her. "Come here and squeeze in beside me. I feel the need to hold you and that pink outfit close." He softly whispers to her as she curls up next to him, "You know that I like you in hot pink the best."
Leo is watching Josh drool over Donna, until Margaret stepped into his line of vision. "Ah, Josh, I think you may be right. I think I now need to hold Margaret's satin outfit close." He drops his voice to his best rumbling sound, that Margaret just loves to hear. "I think the after dinner dessert has just arrived."
Margaret's grinning and looking at Leo, to say 'I knew you'd like this'.
Leo continues to tease her, since he knows she's wearing the satin pants to make him nuts. "I like the aqua color Margaret's wearing, its just wonderful for her coloring. She wears 'her pink', on her face when she blushes." He's pulling her down onto the couch with him and she snuggles with him. He keeps her flat on her back, instead of spooning together right away, so he can show her how much he appreciates the outfit, with a passionate kiss. She wraps her arms around his neck to fully enjoy his appreciation.
"Well, you two aren't a bit shy and Margaret does blush nicely," Josh drying comments on the couple on the couch.
Leo lifts his head from Margaret's. "I've learned to accept any and every opportunity, to enjoy my time with Margaret." She still has her arms around him and is playing with the back of his neck with one hand. "I don't waste time. It's not my way. Turn the lamp off, Josh," Leo orders. "It's a movie-watching requirement here."
Josh readily complies and snaps off the lamp. Josh then wraps his arms around Donna as she throws her legs over his lap, being more relaxed in the dim light of the TV.
"Alright, making out at the movies," Josh approves of the rule. "This evening just keeps getting better." He starts kissing Donna in an exaggerated manner.
Leo and Margaret laugh at his enthusiasm. Leo cautions out loud, "we may have to throw cold water on them, before the end of the movie."
"Kissing, Josh, is limited to just during the commercials," Donna informs him as she comes up for air; since Josh isn't losing any time either. "We 'are' going to watch a movie, you know."
"All right, Donna. New rule, kissing is just during the commercials. Snacking is while it's on," Josh's ready to eat again anyway.
Margaret, agreeing with Donna, turns on her side facing the TV, since it's time for the movie to come on and spoons back up against Leo. Leo growls his disappointment, but settles for rubbing his hand up and down the side of her leg, enjoying the feel of the satin.
****
About the middle of the movie and at the commercial, Margaret announces that she's going to the little girls room and Donna pops up to go with her, which is a disappointment to both guys,
"Why, Leo, do girls always prefer to pee in groups," Josh's mystified with this habit.
"Just one of the Sisterhood mysteries, Josh," Leo flatly states, since he can't figure it out either.
Josh confesses to Leo, "I don't know about you, but tucked into this recliner, cuddling with Donna, is get too warm for me with sweats on."
"I hear you!" Leo agrees, "I'm a warm person to begin with and I'm sandwiched between the couch and Margaret. Margaret doesn't seem to mind, as she's always cold." He looks up and remarks, "This apartment doesn't have a ceiling fan, to at least stir the air. That'll be a must in the next apartment," he tells Josh, so one of them can to add it to the list, for tomorrow's search.
"Next time we do this, Leo. I'm bringing my own satin pants to wear. This is June and it's getting too warm for sweats." Josh's munching as he thinks, "Besides, Donna likes my bright blue sleep pants," he grins, remembering Donna couldn't take her eyes off them at his apartment, when he was home sick.
"I agree, Josh. I didn't bring mine here, because I didn't want Margaret to get the wrong idea and think I 'planned ahead', to spend the night. We agreed to take things slow and enjoy our time together. She's more comfortable with me being here now and we've gotten a lot closer as a couple." Thinking out loud, "I think she'd be agreeable to me wearing my black satin pants. She's wearing hers tonight." He smiles at the thought of their legs molded together in satin. Leo makes an absolute certain prediction to Josh, "Movie night will be regular occurrence; if the girls have their way and I've no doubt that they'll get it." He makes a fair decision, "Then they're just going to get used to the notion of satin pants for all of us. Leo states for both Josh and himself, "We're not going to roast all summer."
****
The women return and as they inter the room, Josh pipes up "Hey, Margaret, is it alright if I take off my shirt?" He explains, "I'm roasting in this recliner. Donna's better than any blanket for keeping me warm." He grins at Donna since she's standing in front of the chair.
"Sure, no problem, Josh. "What ever makes you comfortable? Women like having bare chest men around," Margaret answers from where she's standing in front of the couch. Winking at Donna who is wearing a pleased look on her face at Josh's request.
Leo's up on one elbow, while waiting for her return, and is watching the exchange. ~It's going to get more interesting between Josh and Donna, if I don't miss my bet.~
Josh whips off his shirt, while still sitting and promptly tosses it at Donna like a challenge. Donna gets a mean playful look on her face and throw the shirt right back at his face, which he easily catches and stretching the arm out, drops it to the floor. With the other hand he grabs Donna and pulls her to his lap. " Donna, now you've had it," he quickly starts kissing her rapidly all over her face. She's laughing and wiggling like it's just killing her, she's weakly protesting for him to stop.
Josh finally relents, "OK I'll stop for now, but you remember, I won." He points out with a smirk on his face and Donna whacks him playfully on the chest.
Before Margaret can sit down, after watching the other couple play. Leo pops up quickly and is toe-to-toe with Margaret. He announces that he's too warm also and starts to tug at the bottom of his t-shirt that's tucked into his sweats. He leers a challenge at Margaret, "You want to help? She grins her answer and reaches behind him to pull the back of the shirt out of his waistband. He has a look of total enjoyment on his face as he raises his arms and rests them on her shoulders, with his hands clasped behind her head. Since he has her so close, he reaches forward with his lips and kisses her and breathes a soft thanks. She smiles innocently and figures that she's safe, while in front of the others. She slides her fingertips under the t-shirt, at his sides with her thumbs on the outside of the material and slowly slides her palms up his ribs raising the shirt. When she feels his nipples in the soft curls of his chest with her fingertips, she presses her palms more firmly as she continues to raise the shirt. He growls softly as his eyes smolder.
Josh decides on payback and pipes up, "You two should get a room."
Leo growls out loud and Margaret laughs, as they step back to arms distance, they almost break apart.
"Hey, Leo? Is that four times this week for my score keeping or is this number one for next week," he asks, getting brave and teases Leo.
Margaret Laughs again and reaches back and flips the t-shirt over Leo's head and down his arms as he drops them off her shoulders. Leo smiles at his own expense and jokingly replies to Josh, "Remind me to stomp you ass at a later time, Josh."
They all laugh at the remark, as they hurry to cuddle back up for the movie.
Margaret softly comments to Leo, "This 'is' nicer," as he slips his bare arm under her arm and around her waist. She can now better smells his cologne, radiating from his bare skin.
"Margaret, did I mention that in my opinion, that your small white top, is one step away from a wet t-shirt. Leo's voice is so soft, it practically sounds like a rough purr, "And you're making me crazy tonight. You know that, right?"
Margaret just gives a happy sigh and wiggles closer to him.
"And quit wiggling, I can only resist just so much, Margaret," he seriously whispers into her ear. He pulls her closer to hold her still. He blows out his breathe to calm down. "Now, you're 'the one' pushing it." He then warns, "Remember, I'm not to shy either."
"Ok, Leo, I'll be good," she promises, but it doesn't sound like it will help him any.
He growls, "I just bet you are, but your not right now." He's kissing the curve of her ear.
She giggles at that comment and the kissing. She's trying to concentrate on the TV screen. "Shush. Leo, the movie is back on!" She's reminding him of the new rule.
He growls softly and glances at the couple in the recliner and they're in a world of their own. Happy to be together, no matter what the rest of the world is doing tonight.
****
After the movie, the guys are again surfing the channels for news reports. Leo, always with his cell phone close at hand, has done his last check-in with the President. The girls are content to just relax, staying tucked in with their guys awhile longer.
"So, Margaret, what time do you want to go check out apartments," Donna asks Margaret, so Josh and her can schedule when they should be back here at the apartment.
"Well, they probably won't show them till noon, at the earliest," she being realistic. "I'm was planning on sleeping in, which means about 8am for me, if you know what I mean. That's a lot later than the 5 AM we're all used to, working at the White House."
Donna nods in agreement, "You're right about that. Three hours extra sleep sounds wonderful. Donna's a little punchy this late and relaxed, "Why couldn't we have two Sundays in the week, with one in the middle." They both giggle at the thought.
"Now, that would be wonderful," Margaret's in total agreement with Donna's wishful thinking. ~That would be two Sunday mornings with Leo also!~
Margaret sighs and gets back to tomorrow mornings plans. She runs through the rest of them for Donna, "After Leo fixes breakfast, I wanted to go look for cardboard boxes to start packing with." She gives a sigh, "I may need to figure out a plan for getting all this packed up quickly."
"Well, sounds like you need us here early then," Donna knows Margaret's time is going to be limited. "We can decide a plan of action tomorrow, while we're out getting the boxes."
Josh has an idea to add to the morning plans, "Hey, Leo, are you cooking enough to feed us also, I'll be starving in the morning."
"Sure, Josh. We can call you in time to be here for breakfast. I'll fix plenty, if you're bringing your huge appetite." Leo just has to remark on Josh's eating habits again.
"Leo, if you don't mind?" Margaret asks with a suggestion. "If they want, they can sleep here on the couch tonight." She explains, "They'd just have to come right back in the morning and staying would save them the time of driving home and then right back." She looks at Donna, "Do you have enough clothes with you? If not, I'm sure we can loan you what you need."
Leo eyes light up, he jumps in and agrees, "Sure, if that means, what I think it means?" He has an eager smile on his face, looking at Margaret.
Josh is grinning. He's figured out why Leo's so willing to give up his couch, "OK, I'll go ahead and ask. Then just where will you be sleeping, Leo?"
"He'll be cuddling with me, in my bed," she boldly replies for Leo and she gently pulls him off the couch.
He jumps up with little pulling and gives a quick, "Night, you two." Leo grins at this next dig he gets at Josh, "Oh, Josh, you're welcome to the couch now. Pillows and blankets are in the bottom of the bathroom closet." He helpfully adds with a smirk in his voice.
"Night!" Josh laughs back at Leo's good fortune. Happy since he knows he's sharing the couch with Donna tonight.
Donna's blushing in the chair, she can't believe Margaret's taking Leo to her room or that Leo arranged for her to sleep with Josh on the couch. Things are moving right along for all of them.
****
In Margaret room Leo's helping her remove the bed throw, "So, you want to cuddle tonight. I'm not complaining, mind you, but how am I suppose to be good, with you in that top," he tries to sound serious, but the laughter in his voice is not helping.
"Well, Leo." She takes deep steadying breath, "If you're real good we might invoke, the waist and up rule." She doesn't look at Leo, because she's definitely blushing and he'll be able to tell in the light from the bedside lamp. She's now holding her breathe for his response to her suggestion.
Leo's surprised and happy, "The waist and up rule. Sounds really interesting! Playfully he asks, "You want to explain that to me." His eyes are sparkling as he waits for her to tell him.
She tries to sound calm, like everyone knows this rule, "It's simple, Leo. It's our next step up from cuddling, anything's allowed from the waist up." She quickly adds before she weakens, "You want to climb in bed now?"
"Anything you say, Margaret." He's sitting on the edge of the bed looking at her, "What ever makes you happy, makes me happy. Lets try out this new rule of yours." He can tell by her rapid speech that she's nervous, "Might have to make it a law. You know from work, that I'm good at law making." He teases her, to help calm her.
"Turn out the lamp, Leo," she orders, after snuggling down in her side of the bed. "And you can slip out of your sweats if you're too warm."
****
The next morning Margaret smiles as she stretches out beside Leo. He's lying on his stomach with an arm draped around Margaret waist. Softly Margaret wakes him, "Leo, Leo, it's 7, you awake yet?"
"I am. I'm just happy to just lie here quietly beside you. Content just doesn't begin to express how I'm feeling, when I wake up with you in my arms." Putting action to words, he pulls his shoulder under him and reaches to pull her into his arms and kisses her good morning. Their faces are lying close together on the pillow.
"Me too, Leo," she agrees. They lie quietly and listen to each other breathe, enjoying the solitude of early morning together. "Can we be serious a moment? Before the day starts," she asks.
"Sure, Margaret, anytime and about anything." He can tell from her voice that she's a little unsure about something. "That's the only way our relationship will grow," he reminds her. "I enjoy having early morning talks with you."
"Leo, I want your honest opinion of how we are going. I know we tease, but I don't want to hurt either of us, by 'being' a tease," she sounds worried and almost apologetic.
"Margaret," she can hear the smile in his voice, "I hope we have enough history together and to know each other well enough, to recognize the difference." He's just glad it 'is' them that she's worrying about and not a worldly matter like the press. He hugs her with a small squeeze to reassure her. "We both know the teasing 'is' part of the closeness we have. Don't worry. Honest. I don't read you wrong, Margaret. I'm happy to let you set the pace." He kisses her on the forehead, as she's not looking directly at his face. "I honesty think we are mature enough to not jump right to the sex and miss all the special times we can enjoy getting there. It's our relationship and we can develop it how we want. There are no required or expected steps to it." She smiles at his calm, but rough morning voice that she loves to hear next to her. "I hope you'll tell me your wants and needs, Margaret." He reaches to smooth back her hair from her face, enjoying the silky texture. "I promise to be honest with you and tell you if something feels uncomfortable."
She snuggles into his chest feeling safe and secure, "Leo, how did you know just what I need to hear from you." She sighs happily. "I 'was' worrying that you might be expecting more from our relationship than I was ready for." She tries to explain where she's coming from, "I've worried and cared for you a long time. You were so important to me. I believed in you and in what you were working toward." She confesses, "That now, being so personal with you is taking some adjustment. There are some ways that I know so much about you and yet in other ways there is so much to learn." She can still just smell the faint and lingering scent of his cologne from the warmth of his body, which is a comfort to her. "I always thought that being together romantically as a couple was impossible for us. A pipe dream that slowly started after your divorce." She raises her eyes to his and kisses him softly to let him know that she's so glad that it's not a dream. She smiles in return to his smile. She then lets him know she agrees with his take on their relationship, "Yes, the teasing 'is' just the right way for us to find what we need in each other. We use it to stretch the boundaries." She leans on him, to roll him on his back and she rests her head and hand on his chest. "We seem to use teasing with each other to learn to be happy together and enjoy our new relationship."
Leo softly strokes her arm that's lying on his chest and he holds her securely close with his other arm across her back. "There's so much for me to learn about you, Margaret. I like that each level has different discoveries, for us, about each other and I don't want to hurry through them either." He kisses the top on her head. "I want to savor them with you."
She smiles at his cooking metaphor for them. "So, OK, the new level for us is to share more of the new apartment together and to share more of ourselves with each other." She chuckles at her next comment to him, "I thought you'd like our new level and the new rule."
Leo quickly agrees with pleased sound to his voice, "Definitely the new rule. It opens a whole new way to discover how much we care about each together."
She remarks with a satisfied response, "I thought that you would want for us to have a way to share a more personal touch, without feeling we were rushing. The cuddling is so special to us, I wanted a way to expand it and yet not loose the magic of it."
"Margaret, you found the perfect way." He pauses to think, "I'll be honest with you, it just seems that our pace feels right." He admits and then jokingly adds, "I am male and I may need a cold shower now and then." He chuckles softly, "A fact that tells us that's working for us." He reminds her of a good example, "Just like last night when I told you to quit wiggling. I know you could tell that physically I was having trouble with that and you took it in stride." He kisses her at the point where her forehead and the part of her hair meet, "Neither one of us is inexperienced here," he truthfully points out. "We had a cooling off time then and that worked for us."
She's been lightly stroking small circles on his chest with her index finger, "Oh, Leo, you make me so happy. What would my life be without you in it?"
"Margaret, I can guarantee that my life would have been a nightmare without you." He slightly shutters as his past flows in his mind. "Certainly not what it is today?"
"You earned your place at the White House and in politics the hard way, Leo. I was just there to help you keep on track," she states a certainty.
"And we have a ways to go, personally and professionally." Leo predicts, "Together as a team, Margaret."
They just cuddle for a time, thinking on the things that they have said to each other.
"Leo." Margaret now brings up another thought she has about them, "One other thing I wanted to talk about was the daybed and you sleeping on the couch." She hurries to continue, which clues Leo in that it's going to be something that's important to her and she doesn't know how he'll respond. "I know you've been comfortable sleeping on the couch, physically and mentally, or I would have traded with you."
He interrupts her, "I know, Margaret. You have always taken care of me first before yourself." He stops her with a hug, before she can respond. "I know. You did it willingly. That's what makes you special to me now. Your unselfish outlook," he means it, but makes it sound like a tease. "Ow !" She plucks a hair from under her hand for his tease. He tries to be contrite sounding, not an easy thing for Leo McGarry, "You were saying about the couch and the daybed?"
"Yes, Leo, I think the daybed is a good idea, but when we're here by ourselves. I want you in here with me to cuddle." She looks into his eyes, resting her chin on his chest and seriously adds, "I trust you." She boldly points out, "So, you'll not actually be using the daybed or the couch, except when there are unusual situations or it can be just be for priority sake." She reconfirms what she means, "What we do here privately is our business and I want you in here. I'll honestly let you know if, for some reason I change my mind and your expected to let me know, also, if you are uncomfortable any night with the understanding that it wouldn't be thought of badly of by the other. Your job may be reason enough at times."
"I'm OK, with that, Margaret." Leo is amazed that she would be that considerate, but she has always been that way with him. "I think our relationship is ruled just as much by our heads as by our hearts." He nods his head to the side even while lying down and gives her that small knowing smile of his, "We're just that kind of people. It comes with our political profession." He pauses a moment reflecting on what they have together. "Thank you, Margaret, for so many things. Your trust means a lot to me. You do know my weakness for cuddling. You're teasing back at me. It keeps me humble, well sort of, as much as I can be. Ask Josh, it's hard for politicians." He chuckles at the truth of that and continues, "You accept my sexual teasing in the manner it's intended. I just can't help but make you blush. Your blushing shows that I mean enough to you, for you to blush at what I say."
"Leo, how do you know so much about me?" She can't understand yet how they read each other feels so clearly and so soon.
"I had years to learn your ways, Margaret. We have a good solid background together and our time together is just blooming now."
"That's so sweet, Leo." She'll remember his words forever.
"Anytime, Margaret," he promises. He rolls her onto her back for some quality time. He kisses her passionately with his hand now caressing her breast. Her sleep top covering it is not daunting him any.
He chuckles, when he pauses for air, "This new rule adds a whole new dimension to necking."
"Leo, it's 8 am now, maybe we better get Josh and Donna up now and get the day rolling," she hates to end their private Sunday morning time together, but real life has a way of continuing on.