Title: Apartment 8A /8B Daylight Series 9/?
By: chipmunk
Rated PG-13
See disclaimers in Part one
Archived at:
****
At the old apartment Margaret's closing the door behind Josh and Donna as they leave, after retrieving their clothes. They're still discussing when they'll pay up on the bet. Margaret smiles while listening to them debate as they continue down the stairs.
Leo is now rattling in his kitchen. He volunteered to make them some of her decaf tea and she smiles knowing for sure that he's in there also planning his attack for packing the kitchen. Margaret stops at the doorway to the kitchen. Smiling still, since she can see that Leo has most of the cabinets' doors open for his inspection, while he waits for the microwave to ding with the tea water.
"Leo, are we crazy?" Margaret questions the giant undertaking that they set for themselves.
He looks at her and grins widely, "Of course we are, Margaret!" He sounds like that is a good thing and cheerfully lists why. "Crazy in believing we could get a dark horse elected President and is now in the White House. Crazy enough to believe we make a difference with the work we do there. Crazy enough to blow off the restraints this city tries to enforce us, telling us whether we can make ourselves happy together or not; and yes, crazy to think we can have you moved in one week!"
Margaret can't help herself, she chuckles with tears shining in her eyes, "I guess, Leo, that when you put it that way, maybe moving in a week is not too crazy."
"Nah, just another challenge and we thrive on challenges. Our friends will help us. They always do when we need them, whether we need to ask or not." He steps to her and he can't resist the tears in her eyes. He pulls her close for a hug and a peck on the lips. "You just need a plan of operation. That's your expertise." He drops another kiss on her again, "You tell me what schedule we need to follow to get this accomplished and the next thing you know, it'll be Friday evening and you'll be spending your last night here."
"OK, Leo, I can do planning. You get the tea and I'll get my notebook and lets figure out what free time we'll have available and start a schedule. Meet me on the couch." She kisses him a thank you, as she agrees with him and willingly grabs the chance to start getting something positive accomplished.
They're cozily sitting on the couch, feet propped on the coffee table and Leo has his arm around her shoulders, as he looks at the notepad she's writing on. "Margaret, I think that during the next week we should all work at packing 'after' we get out of the office in the evenings. 'No' morning packing for you." He wanted to add that rule at the beginning or she'd work practically around the clock and burn out rapidly.
She gives him her pointed look, like that's going to help.
"Really, Margaret, I have warned the President and the senior staff that we're taking early evenings this week." He cranes his face around to look her in the eyes, "Everyone says they'd help us." He continues and teases her slightly, "Since this place is not 'big' enough for all of our friends to fit in here to help us pack, they're helping by covering for us at work."
"Ok, Leo, so what time can we hope to leave the office?" She wants a time frame to work with.
He lays his head on her shoulder and wrinkles up his forehead as he considers what would be a realistic time, "I'm thinking after the 7pm briefing. I'll check one last time with the President and the four of us will sneak out before 7:30." He chuckles as he predicts, "It'll be Wednesday evening before the rest of the senior staff catch on." He lifts his head to see if she agrees.
Margaret gives a smirk at that, knowing that his comment would get some feathers ruffled. She can just see Toby bluster at that one.
Leo reminds her of the arrangements made earlier that evening, "Like we discussed at dinner, Josh and Donna will swing by their places to change and should arrive here by 8pm, with takeout food for dinner."
Margaret's voicing her doubts again, "You don't think that's a lot of work, for so little time to work here, do you Leo?"
Leo reveals how he expects the evenings to progress, "I have clothes here that I can change into, that'll save me time. After dinner, all of us can pack for a couple of hours." She looks at him like, 'that's just the point'. He reads her look and reassures her, "I know this 'is' a little apartment, but it'll still take 'some time' to pack and transport everything." She nods and agrees with that. He now suggests, "The last thing we can do each evening is take a load to the new apartment of what is packed. Josh and Donna can even help deliver it on their way home." He has a lighter tone as he states, "That should have them home by midnight, just any normal day for us." He jokes as he wraps up the plan that's in his head.
"Speaking of your clothes being here." Margaret adds to the week's list of 'things to do'. "That reminds me that you need to go and purchase your daybed and furniture for the other bedroom."
"Well, we could try to go during lunch tomorrow or Tuesday," he definitely wants her to be there and add her opinion on what he purchases. "We could set it up for them to deliver the stuff, as well, on Saturday." He nods his head to the side, "Might as well have everything arrive the same day."
She quickly rattles a plan she has, "Leo, if everything goes as planned. I was going to ask Donna to come back over here on Sunday for a couple of hours and help me clean a little. I know that they're going to tear it apart to remodel, but I can double check for anything we missed and make sure that things are relatively clean. We can do some of it as we pack." She gets a gleam in her eye, "I want my deposit back!"
"Sounds like a good plan for you ladies". He readily agrees, "Josh and I can work at the apartment." He rolls his eyes at the next statement he makes, "Josh will probably be working on the entertainment equipment. He won't quit till he thinks its perfect; he said something about mounting the extra speakers for surround sound. He loves the size of your new living room." She smiles in appreciation. Leo is thinking out loud now, "I can finish working on the kitchen. Since Saturday, I'll be lucky to get just enough boxes unpacked to cook a quick dinner for us."
"Leo, you're going to cook after moving in all day." She's looking at him, like he is crazy.
"Yes, Margaret." He pauses and then tells her sweetly, "I'm not waiting a whole week to try out the new kitchen." He grins at the incredible look she's giving him. She knows he really 'is' going to try out the kitchen.
"Leo, sometimes I think you'd have a hard choice between cooking and having sex," she's looking at him dead serious.
Leo bursts out laughing at her statement and has to set his tea mug on the coffee table to keep from spilling it. "Margaret, that's one of the things I like about you best. I never can predict what you'll say." He looks at her with a leering smirk, "To answer your question, I guess you'll just have to wait till we make love to make a informed opinion." He lowers his voice to a soft rumble, "Just for your information. I don't have sex. I make love. Never doubt that, Margaret." He reaches up and cups the back of her neck, as he slips his other arm around behind her, to pull her into a passionate kiss as a preview.
When they come up for air, Margaret has a soft grin on her face, "I never doubt you, Leo."
Leo catches his breath and his voice is a little shaky, "That'll have to wait till a better time."
"Maybe, we better get to work packing some boxes tonight and get our minds off fooling around," she gives him a knowing look.
"Now, we're both being spoil sports," he jokes and reluctantly agrees.
"I know, Leo. I'm just too practical for my own good sometimes." She looks at him sadly.
He cheerfully volunteers, "I can work on that fault for you, if you like?"
"Leo," she has to get stern with him, "you have a kitchen waiting on you and the cabinets are hanging open in anticipating."
"That's a low tactic your pulling, Margaret. Making me choose." He hesitates to decide on a rational reply, "But, to be a gentleman, I'll withdrawal to the kitchen. Your virtue is safe tonight." He softy adds, "In fact safe this whole week." He kisses her again, like he's afraid he's has to store them up. He perks up and plans ahead, "After that, I may have to regroup with my strategy. So be warned, Margaret, I have lots of tactics to win your heart."
"Leo," she sarcastically states, "lets be honest here, you have my heart, you're just working on the rest on me now!"
He kisses her as he gets up, "Your too smart sometimes, Margaret, I really have to work to stay ahead of you!"
"Keep working, Leo." She teases him about the on going battle, "That's one way to keep you in shape, since I give up trying to get you to eat right at work." She calls as her parting shot, knowing he's now lost in his kitchen.
She switches gears to thinking ahead of the evenings packing time and stops by on the way to her bedroom, where she needs to start the packing her assigned room. "Leo, I was thinking and wanted your opinion." She hesitates before asking, "I know we've been on the road all day, it seems, but do you think we could take a load of my winter clothes over this evening. If we are quiet and use the back entrance, we shouldn't disturb anyone."
"Sure, Margaret," he quickly considers the trip, "going tonight is a good idea, we need to get as much done, ASAP. That would get one big load done now."
"It wouldn't take long for me to take my clothes, which are on hangers, to the car and you could grab my comforters that are in the zipped bags. That would remove a lot from my packed closet and give me space to work." She suggests for him, "You need to first put shelf liner down in the kitchen cabinets, anyway. We could stop at the superstore on the way and run in to grab a few of rolls." She logically explains, "Going over this evening would give me a chance to see what I need for curtains. We can check if the frig. is plugged in and things like that."
"Margaret, I'm right in thinking that this is the point where women get all domestic," Leo determines with a slight whine in his voice.
"Yes, Leo." She happily confirms his coming misery, "We women enjoy making our nest. I 'am' generously letting you pick out what you need for the spare room." She also lets him know a change in the plans that they discussed before about the spare room, "I'm thinking, maybe you should see if you can fit a small computer desk in there and I'll put my desk out in the foyer."
He resigns himself to his fate, "I can see we need to check some measurements, to see where things will fit and what we need to purchase." He looks at the satisfied look on her face, "This evening does look like the best time to do it. Lets both grab the clothes and go!"
"That's Ok, Leo, the bedroom is my area to pack and I'll take them to the car. You need your time in here. You can pack up the smaller pans and cookware. We'll take them with tomorrow's load. The big boxes we'll leave for the movers." She throws a promise back to him, since she's already going to her bedroom, "I'll come tell you when I have everything ready to go. I won't be long."
"Ok, Margaret, you're running the schedule." He answers with a fading voice, as he's already planning what to box up first, "I'll keep working on my room then."
After four loads to the car, she's ready to go grab the comforters. She stops by to inform Leo she's ready and finds him surrounded by the lots of boxes. "Do we need to send a search and rescue party in to find you, Leo," she asks jokingly.
"We definitely have to take this load tomorrow or you won't able to 'find' the coffee maker, let alone food," he warns in a flip manner.
"Well, then I'll send the S&R for the coffee maker and you can fend for yourself," she sounds heartless and he knows she serious about her morning coffee.
"Your warm concern is so touching, Margaret," he returns mockingly. "Let me find a path out of here and we'll go to the new place." He climbs over and around the boxes that are on the small floor space. "That kitchen is small, but the cabinets are bottomless pits." He teases her with a dig; "Better keep the S&R on speed dial."
She retaliates with, "Better yet, I'll tell Ron Butterfield I lost you and would he 'pretty please' come over and find you." She says this as she picks up a comforter bag and her purse, still moving to the front door.
Leo grabs the other comforter bag and follows her, continuing the conversation, "You just give up those 'pretty' thoughts and Butterfield can keep out of your apartment." He closes the door and locks it. He's right behind her down the stairs and keeps the debate going. "You know, I'm beginning to think it might not be safe, for Butterfield to ever be here. You might just tackle him down and have your way with him."
She calls his bluff, "Sounds like you'd like to be him, in that personal fantasy you got going there."
"Oh, Margaret, be still my heart." He holds a hand to his chest, "My fantasy, for right now, is being here with you and I am happy to have that." He grins at her as they're walking, "Everything else would be 'beyond' fantasy.
She looks at him to see if he is serious or not. She decides to keep it neutral, "You're getting punchy early this evening, Leo. How tired are you," she asks as they get into the car.
"I'm OK, Margaret," he gives his snap and automatic response that he has answered her with for years. She raises her eyebrows, when that answer blows right by her, it was said so fast. "Sorry, Margaret, I said that out of habit. I not really tired, just relaxed." He leans over and kisses her cheek. "I've spent the last 48 hours with you and that makes my weekend wonderful."
"You might change your mind before this week is over, Leo." She makes a slight prediction, "You may go hide at the hotel. Or we both might go screaming into the night after this coming Saturday." She laughs as she visualizes that scenario in her head.
He laughs with her and adds, "If it gets that bad, Margaret, 'Honey', I promise that I won't run out on you." He pauses and grins at her, "I'm sure there'll be a small 'convenient' crisis somewhere in the world that the President will 'desperately' need me for." He can sarcastically remark, since she knows he'd not wish a problem on anyone in the world.
"Leo, you're terrible, you know that." He just chuckles wondering if she's just now figuring that out.
After a short drive they arrive at the superstore to make a quick stop for the paper.
"Margaret," Leo makes an observation, "I've noticed that since I started going to your apartment, I get out in public more and get to be a normal person. Before it was politics 24/7, unless I went and visited Mallory or maybe she and I did lunch." He puts his hand at the small of her back as they walk the parking lot, "Going places with you is so refreshing. You're so good for me!" He completes his thought with, "I feel that I'm the one getting all the benefits." They enter the store, "Lead on, Margaret, this is your turf in here." He looks back and forth at the rows of merchandise, "It looks like a jungle to me."
"Don't be afraid, Leo. I'm here to protect you," she grabs his hand and enjoying the freedom they have now to do so.
"That's an understatement." He comments in a lowered voice, "You've been doing that for years!"
"Well, remember that tomorrow at work," she playfully requests.
"Nah, I get to go back to bellowing for you at the White House," he doesn't relinquish any of his turf.
She ignores his bravo, "OK, Leo, we've got what we need from here," she remarks after selecting a few rolls of shelf cover and she remembers to grab a can of disinfectant spray on the way to the checkout. "Lets get to the new apartment," she gladly requests.
At the Latrobe, they have no problem finding Leo's new parking space and Margaret's is beside it. "Leo, grab the store bag and the small toolbox I put in the floor of the back seat," she directs him were to find it and adds, "I'll get a load of clothes."
"Ok," Leo being a gentleman offers, "Then I'll get the doors for you. I do have my keys with me." While waiting for the elevator to arrive at the main floor, Margaret has her load of clothes resting against the wall and Leo's looking in the bag at her purchases. "Why the spray, Margaret?"
She smiles at him and she reveals her 'work plan' for him this evening. "That's for you to spray in the cabinets before you put down the shelf paper. I know it looks like a cleaning crew has been in and cleaned, but I want anywhere we put food or where we touch to be disinfected. We can't be too careful," she gives him a serious and knowing look.
They get off the elevator on the middle of the fifth floor and head down the hall to the end, "OK, I agree with your reasoning. Just my luck it's my area to unpack." Leo grumbles, but with a grin. He unlocks the apartment door and steps aside for Margaret to precede him in.
"Poor, Leo. We know it's your favorite room and you won't be happy unless you do it yourself." She shows no sympathy and continues to the master bedroom and hooks the clothes over the closet rod.
Leo has followed right behind her in case she needs help with the bulky load. "You're probably right. You know me too well, Margaret."
"Bet your ass, I do," she flips back at him as a fact. He pulls her into his arms and locks her into a passionate kiss, which she enjoys immensely. "Couldn't wait, could you," she mischievously asks him. "Getting romantic in an empty room."
"Wait?" He asks sounding like he can't believe she said that, "I've been patient all day. It doesn't look like we're going to cuddle tonight or any night this coming week. So, be warned, I'm in stealth mode."
"Oh, I like you in stealth," she assures him. He chuckles at her reply and goes to get working in the kitchen. She grins and calls after him, "I'll check the windows for the curtain measurements, while you spray the kitchen. When you're done with the spray, let me know and I'll spray the doors and the bath." She can hear Leo humming as he opens the cabinets to tackle the job lined out for him. Smiling at the happy sound, she then gets started by removing a tape measure and a small notepad that she will need from the toolbox.
Leo later takes her home to her old place and he heads to the hotel to call and check in with the President before getting some sleep. The days are going to be long this week.
****
Monday evening, all four are able to work on the apartment. Tuesday, Josh stays and staff the President at the White House. Wednesday, both the guys attend a meeting and the other assistants stay over, to cover for the girls. Margaret and Donna are then able to get out early enough to go hang curtains in the new apartment. They first stop to grabs some salads and go the old apartment that isstarting to resemble a disaster area.
"Margaret, you're really roughing it this week." Donna voices her opinion of the living conditions she sees, "Trying to live here with part of your things packed and part of them at the new apartment."
"I'll manage, as long as you leave out my daily stuff in the bath and I can find my bed. I know I'll survive this week." She rolls her eyes, conveying that it has been an experience, "I saved enough outfits here for this week and I'm packing everything else."
"Planning out the week,are you," Donna approves of her thinking ahead. "This would drive me crazy!"
Margaret clues Donna in on some future plans "Friday night is going to be interesting with an apartment full of boxes. Leo is going to stay over and help me early Saturday morning with packing the trunk of the car with my personal papers and valuables. I want to do it last and take them over myself. I definitely want to have them out before the movers arrive, so they don't get misplaced."
"So, should we call before we come over, so you can roust Leo out of bed before we get here," Donna teases.
"I'll have him awake, never you mind. No matter where he sleeps." She looks at Donna smiling mischievously, "I may end up on the couch with him." She then reminds Donna, "He always gets up first and makes coffee." Margaret seriously speculates, "That's if he can find the coffee maker on Saturday?" She has a bright idea knowing Donna is the person for the job, "Maybe you should bring some rolls and muffins on your way Saturday?"
Donna agrees, "Ok, sounds like a good idea and Josh can pick out what he likes and not complain." She continues, "On Saturday morning, the last jobs in your room will be, stripping the bed and packing the laundry hamper. I'll pack the last of the bath after Josh and I get here. He'll be having kittens till the entertainment center is loaded and then unloaded. I think he's going to personally guard the all the boxes he packed. He's really insistent that nothing is going to be broken."
"Good, that's why I wanted him to do it." Margaret stands and comments, "We better get a load to the car and get over to Latrobe and hang the curtains." Margaret wanted to get the curtain hanging done; it will make the apartment start to feel like home to her.
Thursday, it works out that all of them were again there packing. Leo arrives a little later than the rest. He states to Josh as he comes in the door, "I finally got away from the office, after I reminded the President what we were up to this week." He's weaving his way through the boxes that Josh has all over the living room floor and keeps searching for Margaret, he can hear the girls in the bedroom. "Is it safe to enter, Margaret?"
"Maybe not Leo, we may need the S&R team in here yet." Margaret jokingly warns him, "We have lots of boxes stacked in here, also."
"I meant are you girls decent," he tries to explain why he asked before entering.
"Well, yes, we were raised to be decent females," she can't resist now being sarcastic with him.
"Very funny, Margaret," he gets sarcastic back at her. "I think I'll throw Donna out and just show you what's not decent." He finally makes it to Margaret side and kisses her like a thirsty man. "I've needed that all evening." He then reaches up and loosens his tie in relief.
"I'm going to go check on Josh." Donna volunteers. "You two are going to steam up the windows in here and I know Leo's going to change clothes soon."
Leo chuckles at Donna's ease at teasing him at the apartment now. This might not be a good thing for him, she has no fear of Josh at either place and now to have both females teasing him here could be dangerous. He informs her, "I change in the bathroom, Donna. I wouldn't want to scare you two sensitive ladies. I'm a gentleman."
"Then give 'gentleman' lessons to Josh, he changes wherever he is, he's not a bit shy. She recalls the number of times he's changed clothes in his office. She usually is the one to close his door for his own privacy. "Margaret has just been lucky and has not been shocked and appalled by Josh yet."
"No," Leo Agrees, "he's not shy around family, be it biological or adopted." He looks at the door where he can hear Josh singing softly to the music he is playing while he packs, "I'm sure Donna knows by now that he believes underwear is dressed." Leo tries to rationalize it, "I think dorm life ruined him."
Leo gives Margaret another kiss, "I better climb my way to the bathroom and change. Then we can get together and decide what we need to do tonight, so we'll be ready to finish up tomorrow night."
"Just yell when your done changing and I'll fight my way to the living room. If I don't show up in a reasonable amount of time, come looking for me." She just can't resist, "Hey Leo, you could always call Agent Butterfield to come rescue me," she teases Leo. She's smiling and knows Leo is never going to leave her alone with Ron Butterfield again. Just in case.
"Right, Margaret. I'll just do that," he growls back at her, knowing she's just saying that to get a dig at him.
After a quick change, Leo's soon in the living room. "Margaret, can you come in here now," he calls back to her room.
"Keep talking Leo and I'll follow your voice," she's really getting punchy tonight.
"Funny, Margaret, it's not that bad, yet," he's wondering what he's going to do with her if she keeps this up all night. He might have to find a dark closet for them.
He returns to the business at hand, "Team meeting, we need to regroup and see what's left to be packed."
"I'm in charge of schedule, Leo. You get to be a little worker ant this week, remember?" Margaret asserts her role.
"Yes, Dear. Anything you say, Dear," Leo remarks sarcastically to get a rise out of Margaret, in return for her comments before about Butterfield.
It does! "Dear is it," she kisses him and pinches his rump.
"Ow, that's going leave a mark," He rubs the seat of his jeans,
"Just remember that, Sweetie, when you sit down tomorrow." She smirks and adds, "Calling me 'Dear' in that tone of voice, you earned it."
"See, Donna," Josh pipes in, "they're doing it again, with the Dear and the Sweetie."
"Well, it's a better sounding name than what the first lady calls the President," she lets him in on the little known fact.
What name? Josh can't resist asking.
"Jack ass," Donna replies sweetly.
"No way," his face is priceless, with a look of disbelief. The others just smile at Josh to confirm it.
"Cool, even the President gets in trouble," Josh marvels. "I don't feel so bad now!"
Leo turns to look at Margaret, as time is limited, "All right, Margaret, what's the plan now?"
She starts right in," Tonight, we finish packing what we can and then we take a load of small boxes to the apartment. We each take our usual two loads each. Tomorrow night is organizing the boxes into the living room and checking that they are labeled." She previews the Saturday schedule, "The movers will first take the rest of the boxes into the moving van and then take the furniture out last, to be unloaded first at the new apartment. Then we'll just follow the movers and lock up this apartment till Sunday. All in favor," she asks.
The other three respond with, "Aye"
"Let's move every one, we stop at 10 pm to load the car," Leo dismisses the troops.
****
Josh's in Leo's office late afternoon on "Final Friday" as Josh calls it. " How are we all going to get the day off tomorrow? On a Saturday, Leo," Josh has serious doubts.
"Easy, we're going to come over to the office in the afternoon and check on the world and if it's still turning, we go back and help the girls unpack," Leo calmly reveals his backup plan to his male counterpart.
"You mean skip out on the girls?" Josh voices the inconceivable question. He then positively predicts, "They'll kill us!" He also asks Leo in the next breath, "What about me unpacking and setting up the entertainment center."
"Yeah," Leo has that 'I've got a plan' grin on his face and admits, "we skip out and depending on how the unpacking is going, we decide how long to be here. If you get my drift, Josh. If the unpacking gets ugly, I'm looking for the nearest bomb shelter." He seriously looks at Josh, "Let me remind you, Margaret has red hair for a reason. I get the feeling she can get as scary as Abby, if she tries."
Josh grins in admiration, "You know, Leo, you're sneaky."
"Self-preservation, Josh," he boasts to the younger man. He then reveals, "Here's how I see it. If we stay all day at the apartment, we get ordered around and then get growled at when they get tired." He pauses for Josh to picture this, "We disappear for a little while. Telling the girls, to take their time. Assuring them we'll be right back. Everyone gets to regroups and get a second wind. Sound good so far," he asks Josh. He continues with the best part of his plan, "We return with their favorite ice cream and we become the rescuing Calvary plus get to be the heroes."
"Leo, I'm impressed," Josh is amazed at Leo's underhanded male strategy.
"Stick with me, Kid, and you'll learn something," is Leo's cocky boast.
"That or get killed by Donna," Josh predicts, if she find out their plan.
"Life's risky, Son," Leo imparts. "Just trying to keep up with females has its hazards. Rumors from the Sisterhood have hinted at a few. I have found out from experience that ice cream will cover a lot of sins."
Leo now backhandedly give Josh another hint at Leo's plans for Saturday, "Tell Donna to pack a swimsuit. We'll be agreeable with the girls to a midnight session in the hot tub." He reflects back to the tour, "You saw it the other day. The thing's as big as a small lake, so even if others residents are enjoying it that shouldn't be a problem. We can just out stay them." Leo winks and Josh's face lights up in understanding.
"Leo, you really know their weakness and how to use it to your advantage." Josh states with pride.
"That's the plan," Leo agrees.
****
Friday night at the apartment, Leo and Margaret make it in later than they hoped, around 9pm. Josh and Donna are expected soon. A pizza is already ordered and on it's way. They both hurry to change before everyone arrives at the door. Leo's closest when the door bell rings and he lets Josh and Donna in, "Better put your bags in the bathroom closet for safekeeping. We're packing anything that doesn't move tonight." Leo warns. With in minutes of their arrival, the pizza arrives and Leo calls, "Pizza's here, you girls better hurry, Josh is dying in here. We better feed him soon." He's not kidding as Josh is already attacking the pizza box, just like he would at home.
The evening goes smoothly and everyone, especially Josh, is happy with the night's work. Josh has the media equipment organized and packed for the movers tomorrow and is smiling and trying to make his own music, but Donna and Margaret are making fun of his songs, since he can't remember all the words. The foursome, last thing of the night, make a trip to the new apartment using Leo and Donna cars, since they would hold the most. After a quick two loads by everyone, both couples part to catch some sleep and regroup at 7am, as the movers are due at 8am.
"Hey, Margaret, we made it!" Donna softly calls from the doorway. She sees Margaret walking in from the kitchen with the folded newspaper in her hand. "It's 7am and I see your dressed, but I not sure you're awake, Margaret. Didn't Leo make your coffee or is the coffee maker lost?"
"Yes, I'm awake and no the coffee maker isn't lost." She then admits the reason she not really wake, "Actually, I let Leo sleep in, he was on the phone, with a foreign problem that flared up after we got back, till 3am. I'm sure he'll fill Josh in later, but he said it worked out fine, whatever it was. Anyway, I was letting him sleep till you guys arrived and I was just going in to wake him."
Josh smiles and shows his dimples at this information. "Hey, Leo, you're late! Get your sorry ass out here," Josh shouts from where he's standing in the living room with the girls. "I just couldn't resist, for all the many times that he's tore me for being a few minutes late for staff meetings." Josh just grins a satisfied payback grin.
Leo appears at the doorway to the bedroom, "I'm up, Kid. You wait, Monday's coming and I'll remember you for this." Leo taunts back at Josh for the rude awaking. He's rubbing his hand over his face as he hangs onto the door casing with the other.
Josh is not deterred from getting another dig into Leo, while the opportunity is present.
"Rough night, Leo? You look like a horse that was rode rough and put away wet. Maybe we better warn Margaret to be more careful with you. It could be bad for your health."
Leo is still half asleep, wearing black and gold ring pattern, satin lounge pants and nothing else. He puts his hand on his bare chest and looks down at his bare feet. "I'll awake, my feet are on the floor and you can ask Margaret, I feel fine. She said so last night." He gives they a sleepy satisfied grin, shooting down Josh's comment.
"Leo," Margaret growls at him. Letting him know that they all got his double meaning.
Margaret moves over close to him, just keeping out of his arm reach and he watches her approach with a sleepy look. She now gives him a pointed suggestion. "Leo, coffee's on and you better get to the bathroom and dress before the movers get here. Donna needs to get in there to pack the last of the bathroom stuff."
"I'll go now, Baby. Wouldn't want her to be shocked coming in and finding me still in there." He surprises Margaret by quickly grabbing her and stealing a kiss from her and moving on to the bath.
"Stealth, Leo?" Is Margaret's happy question, but more like a statement.
"Yeah, Margaret" is his happy answer.
NOTE: Kill me now! Part 8B tomorrow, since part 8 ended up being twice as large as the other parts. Don't want to over load anyone's mailbox. ;-D