Title: Apartment 8B final/8 Daylight Series 9/?
By: chipmunk
Rated PG-13
See disclaimers in Part one
Thanks for reading my first series!
Archived at:
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Soon Leo, now dressed and shaved, joins the others for coffee and rolls at the table. While everyone is eating, Donna is curious about the shopping adventure that Leo and Margaret had at the first of the week. "Leo, what furniture did you buy the other day for the spare room?"
He looks at Margaret to see if she's divulged the adventure and if this is some kind of trap, while he's waking up. She just smiles back at him and doesn't have a guilty look, so he feels safe to answer Donna. He grins and wants a little payback, "Well, I assume what you 'really' want to know is: how did the shopping itself go? As you could plainly see earlier, there were no telling marks left on my body from the adventure." He explains why he needed to be checked, "I tried to simply go in and point at what I liked and tell the sales clerk to go ahead and deliver it. I could've been in and out of the store in twenty minutes." He looks at Josh for support, "I thought Margaret was going to kill me right there in the middle of the store." He now sounds like he's sharing how she did bodily harm, "She hissed to me in very small words and with a tight grab on my arm that she was taking charge of the financial negotiations. I was only to talk to the sales person, to give a yes or a no on whether I could live with the pieces Margaret decided were the best buy for the quality." He then sarcastically remarks to Donna, with a dig at Margaret, "I did really well, after I got the hang of furniture shopping. The man just nods in agreement and at the end, he pulls out the credit card." He grins at Margaret, who has that look women get when men try to explain shopping: 'you really expected to have a choice in the matter'. Donna's smiling that 'Sisterhood' look at Margaret.
Margaret stands up, "Well if we're done with the coffee and rolls, we better get the last minute things done as the movers are due here shortly."
"What's the orders, Margaret?" Josh asks like a soldier on a mission.
Margaret's ready with a list in her head, "OK, here's the plan. Donna, you pack the last of the bathroom. Leo, you finish in the kitchen, with the last of the cold food and coffee things. Josh can help you by refilling our coffee mugs with the last of the coffee and then he can take the trash down. I'm going to go strip the bed down and pack the bedding and the last of the laundry." They all nod in agreement except Josh, he has that 'I've been had' wide-eyed stare he gets.
He comments to Leo when they are in the kitchen, "Why didn't I guess that I'd get to take out the trash? Feels like I'm a teenager at home again, Leo."
"Don't we all wish we could be teenagers again, Josh." Leo wears a remorseful small smile and softly comments. "Man, the things we'd change."
"I know you would, Leo." Josh knowingly replies, "but I'm pretty happy right now and with how things have worked out for me," he glances toward the bath, were he can see Donna moving around by way of the mirror.
Leo notices when Josh stops and looks, "Yeah, my life's been a rough road, but it really has ended up well for me, too." Leo agrees with a soft grin and Josh knows whom Leo's thinking about.
The door bell rings and Josh sprints off to let the movers in, ready to start the day. He hopes it'll end up like Leo predicts. He pops back in to inform Leo that Margaret's supervising the movers, "Leo, I think Margaret has the wrong job career."
"What do you mean? She's my Margaret and she's not changing jobs." He doesn't even want to joke about it.
Josh grins at how fast Leo tacked on the last part of his sentence. "Well, you better not let Fitz see her ordering around a bunch of men under her command. He'll steal her," Josh warns Leo with a happy smile. "There must be six guys out there and 'no one' is standing around looking for something to move." Leo smiles at that. "She has them moving the boxes out of the living room, as we speak."
Leo's grinning broadly now at the vision of Margaret muscling around six burly movers with a look and a pointed finger. He could have saved his mention of a bonus for fast and efficient service. They don't stand a chance of doing otherwise with Margaret in charge.
Leo agrees, "We'd better get out there. This is going to be entertaining and I want to get my money's worth." Leo tells Josh why, "Just to be watching her giving orders to someone else for a change."
They hurry out to see what looks like a revolving line of ants. Giant ants.
Leo whispers to Josh who's standing beside him, "We have trouble feeding you, but these guys look like they could eat hay." He smiles at his redhead in the middle of them.
The giant foreman, who supervises the packing of the truck, enters the living room to check out how many pieces of furniture is going to be loaded. He has factors to consider for the load to be stable. Mostly, he wants to see 'who's' bossing his crew like a steamroller. He's impressed by the results at his end and struggling a little to pack the truck at this fast pace. He walks over to Leo and Josh, deciding that the men must be in charge. "Who's the renter of the apartments? I need to see what needs to go," he asks down to the weaker looking men with a macho attitude.
Leo and Josh read him like a book and both smile. They both point to the redhead stand in the middle of the floor giving orders, "Her."
The foreman's taken aback to realize that a female is getting 'real work' out of his crew. "Her," he asks to verify that they mean Margaret.
"Yeah, her name is Margaret. You can ask her what needs to go and when," Leo tries to warn him, as he assures him 'who' is in charge.
"Hey, Lady, are you the one who hired my crew," he asks as he step a little too close to Margaret, trying to intimidate her with his presence.
"And you are?" She pointedly asks and doesn't step away, but looks him up and down, like she's sizing him up. She heard parts of the conversation he had with Leo.
"Bennings is the name." He snaps back and quickly fires off questions, "What goes and what stays? You stated you wanted it fast for a bonus, so there's no time for female interference."
"Mr. Bennings, I hired you and you work for me." She states the basic facts in small words, "That's the way it is. I pay the moving bill." She points across the room to the guys, "Leo, offered you the bonus, but believe me, if I'm not happy, he's not happy and then no bonus." She pauses to let this sink in, as it might take a few seconds with his thick skull. "You got me?" She looks him dead in the eye.
"Yes, miss, I read you loud and clear." He pulls one thick eyebrow down with an unhappy look and notes she's serious. "Your way or no bonus. Got it," he growls out, like that's going to impress Margaret.
"Hey, Bennings, where ya want the next roomful of boxes?" A crewmember calls into the apartment, "We can't load them, till you show us where in the truck."
"Your job is to pack the truck?" Margaret looks at him like a hooking playing boy.
"Yeah," he answers with a boast, not reading her look. It's lost on him.
"Then get down there," she commands the fool, "your holding up the flow of boxes."
"'I' need to decide what furniture is next," he jabs his thumb back into his chest.
"Not a problem," Margaret informs him, "I'll decide for you and you'll find out my decision when it arrives at the truck, for you to pack." She sarcastically assures him. "I do know enough to send the mattresses first."
He gives her a pissed look, but doesn't say anything, not wanting to loose any pride in front of his crew, who are moving in and out of the room.
"Go, now," she prompts him.
He stomps back to the truck.
Leo whispers to Josh again, "See why I have a getaway plan." He continues to be fascinated by Margaret, "God gives strong women like her red hair for a reason. It's a warning to us males." Leo states, with a note of pride, "Redheads don't take crap from anyone."
Josh is amazed at Margaret's ease of backing down the foreman. "So, what keeps you safe, Leo?"
He does a quick nod with his head to the side and then smiles, "I'm lucky and she likes me," he pauses remembering work and adds, "mostly."
Josh considers Leo's theory, "I wonder if Donna was supposed to be a redhead, she won't take crap either."
"Maybe, Josh." Leo adds after thinking a moment, "Guess the women need it, to keep us in line at the White House. Weak women just wouldn't be able to handle the chaos of our work."
The rest of the loading went without a hitch, after Margaret straightened out the chain of command.
"Leo, they're ready to go to Latrobe now. The truck is loaded." Margaret informs Leo when she finds him in the kitchen, getting the last box of cold food to take to his car. Margaret then adds," Josh and Donna better go on over and park in the visitors parking and I want to follow the truck." She's not letting the truck out of her sight, with that crew.
"OK, Margaret," he smiles at her knowing what she nervous, "I'll go just a little ahead of them, and have the apartment door open for Josh and Donna. Josh will need to be in there, to tell them where to put the entertainment center."
Josh arrives back, he'd followed the last load down and pipes in with, "Yeah, it was loaded last and it will be unloaded first. Margaret, I told them you ordered them not to leave, till you say it was OK."
Leo continues, "Donna can direct the guys where to set the boxes in which room and I'll be right back down to the parking lot to watch you supervise the unloading." He smiles at the look she gives him, as if there was any doubt where she'd be. She says so much to him with her eyes, a communication skill they've developed together. "The movers will be using the freight elevator. I'll just keep an eye on how they get the large pieces into it." She's fiddling with a list in her hand. "Take a deep breath, Baby." He kisses her quickly to reassure her, "We should have all the bases covered."
Josh and Donna grab their bags and go their car. Leo and Margaret walk through the empty apartment remembering this was where they started their relationship adventure. Leo kisses her soundly at the door. "It only gets better now, Margaret." Leo closes the door.
At the Latrobe, the movers are as anxious to get the moving done as the foursome. They're working too hard this morning. They have a taskmaster watching every move at the truck and her accomplices at every stop along the route to the apartment. They are so glad that they'll soon be done. Margaret follows the last of them up to the apartment and is quickly approached by Bennings, "Lady, your stuff has been delivered and it was fast."
"Yes, it was thanks to me." She doesn't give him an inch and looks at the big men setting down the last of her boxes, "You've got a good crew, they just need guidance."
"I'll remember that, Lady," he says slightly sarcastically on the 'Lady'.
Margaret lowers her eyebrows to a pointed look at his tone.
"Leo," Josh gets his attention, "You better go separate Margaret and the foreman or we may need to sell tickets."
Margaret looks around the living room at the job the movers have done. "Has the bed been reassembled and the mattresses put back on it," she questions the foreman, without looking in her bedroom.
"Lady," he again uses the tone. "We just deliver."
She points out to him the obvious, "You disassembled it at the apartment."
"We don't set up the furniture." He now flings back at her, "You wanted fast. You got it and nothing is damaged." The crew's grinning, thinking he's winning this match.
"You 'will' put it back the way you found it or I'm not happy." She knows he gets her meaning when his eyebrows rise.
"No problems are there, Margaret," Leo asks innocently as he approaches the two.
Not taking her eyes off the foreman she sweetly answers, "Mr. Bennings has just informed me that my bed will 'not' be assembled and that they're done." She looks at Leo with a smile, "I just informed him, I'm not happy."
Leo accepts this statement from Margaret, "Too bad, Benning, I'm not happy either." He looks seriously at the foreman. "Send us the bill."
The foreman jerks up straight, "Hey, you said a bonus for fast."
"You heard the 'Lady'," Leo says the word sweetly. Then adds with his best COS warning tone. "She's not happy!"
"So what are we suppose to do." He snaps back.
"Fix it or forget it," Margaret answers firmly.
"Grrrrr," the foreman grumbles under his breathe and commands, "Boys, assemble the bed," he then adds sweetly, which is a scary thing, "and don't scratch it."
The bed is fixed in short order with six men assembling it at once. They get ready to depart as Leo hands some bills to the foreman, "Nice doing business with you!" Leo pleasantly states, knowing it's been a learning experience for the movers.
"Right, glad to be of service," he counts the bills with surprise. The foreman adds, "Looks likes more than 'just lunch' is on you today, mister." He struts out past his crew and they follow him out.
Margaret calls after them, "Thanks 'boys', I really appreciate your generous help today."
Leo gives her a hug in appreciation for her management skills. "Leo, don't get too happy to be here." She imparts the bad news to him, "Now the work starts and the spare room furniture will be here at noon."
"That's all right, Margaret," he agrees. "I'll just go find a path in the kitchen."
"Leo," she uses a tone that freezes him his tracks. "Just turn around and check what needs to be done to the spare room, before they get here with the furniture." She informs him of the priorities, "Then, you can go to your precious kitchen."
"Yes, Baby, what ever you say." He sweetly answers in a teasing tone. Leo ducks his head as he passes her. He's hoping she doesn't slap the back of his head for his answer. He has seen and been the recipient of a few from Abby and he knows Donna does the same to Josh. He figures it just a matter of time before Margaret lets him have it and today she just might snap. The escape plan is sounding better, all the time, to him. Margaret smiles at his ducking.
Josh is not doing much better. "Josh, can you move these boxes over to the other side, so I can get to them better." Donna explains why at the look of disbelief that Josh gives her. "I have to divide up the bathroom items into two bathrooms now and I need to spread them out, to do it."
"Sure, Donna, anything else." He really isn't volunteering. "What if I bust a gut or drop a box on my foot, who will fetch for me then, Donna?"
"Josh, quit whining and just move them. OK?." She charges right in and informs him, "After you get done with that, I need you to help be put the table over against the wall by the kitchen. I'm getting tired of walking around it." She know whose fault it is, "The idiots left it in the middle of the floor." Josh is definitely ready to have Leo put his plan in motion.
An hour later, Josh finds Leo in the kitchen surrounded by boxes. He looks back around the room corner at Margaret's bedroom and can hear the girls. "OK, Leo, when's the plan going to happen?"
Leo glances out the pass thru window, "After the bedroom furniture gets here. I'll give the President a call and have him call my cell phone back." Remembering Josh's appetite, "Why don't you take my pass card and go get some burgers for lunch and we'll eat before we take off."
"Margaret," Leo bellows, "is it all right with you girls, if Josh goes and gets some burgers, before the furniture store delivers the things for the spare room?"
"Sure, Leo, sounds like a good plan." Margaret grants permission, "I'm starting to get hungry and need a break." Then she adds, "We'll work till he gets back."
"See, works like a charm." He smiles at Josh; pleased he knows how Margaret thinks. "Here's some money. Take off now. We want to eat while we have the chance."
After a quick lunch, Margaret wants to get right back to unpacking. She's been busy setting up her bedroom. She has the washer and dryer going already, happy to do the loads in the apartment. Donna just keeps cutting back and forth from one bathroom to the other, keeping an eye on Josh and his media equipment.
Leo answers the intercom when the furniture arrives downstairs. "Margaret, I'm going down to let the delivery guys in the back door, so they can get to the freight elevator. I'll be right back with them." He calls in to her, not really waiting for her answer.
"Sure, Leo. Whatever you say." Margaret's tired already and lunch just seemed to make it worse.
The spare room furniture is quickly brought in and the delivery guys are fast to assemble the day bed. The computer stand was pre-assembled, with the hutch top quickly attaching to the base. Leo signs the delivery slip and the furniture moving is complete. Except for the unpacking part.
Margaret finds Leo still in the spare room, "Leo, here's the new dust ruffle for the day bed. It will take two of us to get in on under the mattress." She hands him a plastic packet and he looks at it like a foreign object. Margaret continues like she listing his schedule at work, "I washed the sheets first and they are in the dryer now. Do you think you can get them on the bed when they are done? I think you better get the transportation tape off all the drawers before it marks the finish." He sighs and moves to help her with the pleated dust ruffle. After that she heads to her room to check the dryer and returns. Leo is carefully removing the tape for the chest of drawers. "Don't forget the nightstand drawer and your computer center." She reminds him and quickly leaves for her side of the apartment. Leo finishes the tape removal, agreeing with Margaret, it needs to be removed immediately.
He can hear Donna in the bathroom next door. Leo watches out the bedroom door for her return to Margaret's side of the apartment. Then he slips his cell phone out of his pocket and speed dials his best friend to rescue Josh and him.
Needless to say, Leo's phone rings a few minutes later and Leo can be heard talking.
Listening to the murmur of Leo's voice, Margaret is standing in the doorway to her room. Looking past Josh, who's very busy with the stereo and trying to look innocent.
Leo enters the living room and crosses to Margaret. He's returning his cell phone to his pocket. "Sorry, Margaret. That was the President and he would like Josh and I, to run over for a short meeting with Ron Butterfield, on the security setup for the library dedication next weekend." He innocently continues, "He said to come as we are, since it's just an in-house meeting and a Saturday." He kisses her forehead, as she looks unhappy. "We'll be right back. Why don't you girls take a breather? Sit and rest while we're gone. Just regroup." He gives her a hug as Josh kisses Donna quickly a good-bye.
They guys are pleased with the getaway and their luck holds. They actually do talk to Ron about next week, just to cover their story. They then check things like email and office correspondence. Leo touches base with the President, for a short while. About mid- afternoon, the guys are leaving the White House. "Hey, Leo, you've got to quit scaring the security agents and the other staff at the White House by wearing jeans and no jacket. They keep looking for Candid Camera."
"Yeah, the President is still razzing me, about if it's really me or an impersonator." Leo has a pained look in remembering. "You should have heard him with Butterfield in there. Ron even smiled."
Josh remembers the best part, "I thought Carol was going to have a heart attack, when she looked up and the guy standing in front of her desk wearing snug jeans was you." Josh really has laughter in his voice, "She looked like CJ's goldfish." He says in confidence, with the joy still in his voice, "I think she was checking out the jeans and when she got to your face, it was just priceless." Josh was incredibly pleased about the whole thing. Donna is going to be thrilled to get this bit of news.
"Helped my ego," Leo grins at Josh. "Maybe, I should be nice to her on Monday or she'll avoid Margaret and me the whole week."
"That or you can start wearing baggier jeans," Josh recommends.
"Nah, Margaret likes me in these." He grins at Josh knowingly.
The guys stop at the grocery to purchase four pints of Hagan Daas, in the favorite flavors they all enjoy, knowing the girls will not be in the mood to share. The girls' flavors are primarily variations of chocolate. Leo also picks up some supplies for dinner. They walk into the apartment and the girls are fuming at their extended absence.
"Leo, you just had to meet with Ron for two full hours?" She cuts off one avenue of excuse, "You can't even plead long driving time from here."
"Missed you, too, Margaret" and her hands her the ice cream.
She readily accepts it as her due, "Is it my flavor?"
"Of course and I found it at the first store," he wants to impress her.
She mellows, "Good, this is just what I need." She grins and says sweetly, "I changed my mind." He waits for her to explain, "I won't kill you for being gone most of the afternoon on moving day." He hugs her in thanks and she holds her ice cream away, not trusting his motives.
Josh holds out his peace offering to Donna. She accepts it with a grab, "Go get spoons, Josh, and you better have you own ice cream, because I'm not sharing."
"Donna, I'm hurt. I always let you eat from my food," he looks at her with a fake hurt look.
She's not buying his look, "You heard me, Josh. It's my ice cream and I'm not sharing. Not today." She 'will' defend her ice cream, even if he did buy it.
He returns with four spoons., "No problem, Donna," he smirks. "Leo and I are way ahead of you girls today."
Leo reaches over and accepts the two spoons from Josh and hands one to Margaret. "Yeah, and we didn't even get a thank you or a kiss, for being so thoughtful in bringing you ice cream to make you feel better during a tiring day." Leo guides Margaret to the couch to sit, as usual, slouched down with their feet up and to enjoy the ice cream. Josh and Donna drape themselves over each other in the recliner to eat and trade bites of each other's ice cream. They just don't seem to know how to eat without tasting what the other is eating. It's just the way they are. They are a sharing kind of couple.
"Thank you, Leo. I did need the ice cream to restore my good humor." She kisses him, tasting of chocolate ice cream and he enjoys the novelty of the flavored kiss. He's also satisfied with getting away with his plan. Everyone is happy again. He still knows in the back of his mind that if Margaret ever finds out, he's dead.
They rest for the better part of an hour and then get back up to tackle their assigned areas. Josh is still hooking up speaker wire and cable connections. Leo is happily rattling around in his kitchen. Margaret's busy working on both bedrooms now, enjoying the added space. Donna has pretty well finished with the bathrooms. She has spread a floral cloth on the dinning room table and is unpacking Margaret's good dishes. Placing them back in the glass cabinet Margaret keeps them in. Leo keeps switching from humming to mumbling and back to humming. This just tickles Donna to hear him, as she adjusts to Leo's calmer moods in the apartment. They work contently for most of the early evening amazed at how much is getting done.
"Hey, Everyone, is it time for me to start making dinner. I found the stove and some counter space clear," he jokes as he has most of the kitchen organized by now.
"You know my answer, Leo." Josh calls from where he's sitting cross-legged on the floor. "I'm always hungry."
"Fine by me, Leo. I'll be ready to sit down by the time you have it ready," Margaret gives her vote from the bedroom.
"Me too, Leo," Donna adds last. "Let me know if I can help. I seem to be almost done here. I can go ahead and set the table." She pauses and then dreamily adds, "We can sit and eat like civilized people, after a week of paper plates and take out."
"Sounds like a good plan, Donna," Leo agrees. "I'll call you later when I need help."
Margaret agrees as well, "Donna that sounds like heaven and we deserve to spoil ourselves after today."
It seems like no time at all when Leo calls for Donna to get their drinks ready.
Donna advises Josh, "You better go wash before you eat, with all the dusty wire and cables you have been working with."
"Sure, Donna. Will you check both the tops and the palms of my hands before I sit down," Josh sounds like the little boy he used to be. He heads for spare bathroom and chuckles as he hears Donna next remark.
"Yes, Josh and do I need to smell them for soap, too?" She joins in on his joking.
Margaret adds to the teasing, "I'll wash also, Donna. I don't want Leo sending me from the table to wash up."
Donna helps Leo to transport everything to the table via the pass through window, over the table. "Leo, this might just be the best step-saver this apartment has." She declares as he takes a plate from Leo.
"You might be right, Donna." He expands on way, "It also lets me still be included in the conversations, while still in the kitchen. I'm not left out, because I'm cooking in the kitchen."
They get seated and Leo has prepared a nice meal and one of Margaret's favorites. Creamed pasta with grilled chicken strips, tossed salad and warm rolls. "Leo, a person could get used to you commandeering the kitchen," Donna compliments him. She adds to the others, "We'll need to remember that at Christmas time for dinner parties. Margaret certainly has the apartment for it now!"
"That's going to a nice bonus at this apartment." Margaret adds happily, "I now can have guests over for dinner and get-togethers. I need to repay CJ for some nice evenings at her place."
They savory the home cooked meal in comfortable quiet, all pleased with the days accomplishments and tired to prove it. After dinner, they all help to clean the table and load the small apartment size dishwasher. They retire to the living room, to catch the evening news and relax after their nice dinner. Leo's channel surfing and Josh is directing the channels to watch. If this keeps up, Margaret may have to get another TV to avoid any difference in opinions, about which news to watch and which male gets the rights to the remote. The girls just snuggle into the males and smile. Nothing will change them on news watching. It's the football game scenario for politicians. After the news goes off Leo makes a suggestion.
"Now, that we've recovered from dinner and before we stiffen up from all the moving today. I suggest we change and go check out the hot tub. What do you girls say?"
"Great idea, Leo." Donna confesses then, "I brought my spare suit for just that reason. I'm leaving it here for when I visit Margaret later."
Margaret happily agrees, "Just what I need, Leo, with my back." She starts ordering again, "You guys go change on your side of the apartment. Donna and I will meet you back here in 10 minutes. The hot tub awaits," she declares as she shuts the door to her room.
They get lucky when they arrive at the hot tub room. A couple is just leaving and it's late enough that no families are using it. They have the hot tub to themselves. All of them kick off their sandals at the door. Margaret and Donna shed their terry robes that are over their suits. Donna has on a bright coral colored, textured tank and Margaret is wearing a sky blue lingerie strap top and high waist bottomed tankini. The guys drop the towels that they have draped around their necks and peel their t-shirts off. Their swimwear matches their personalities. Josh has on a long leg, bright multi-color topical design trunks, while Leo is in a basic suit of mid-thigh length, in forest green. The sound of sighs is mutual, as all four sit on the bench circling the hot tub. The warmth and soothing jets start to work on tired muscles.
Donna is the first to comment on the enjoyment, "Margaret, this is worth the price of the rent all by itself. Just to be able to hop in here any night, will be heaven. You might have me as an evening guest more often."
Margaret is agreeable, "Good thing you plan of leaving your suit here and the guys might as well leave theirs also!" She reminds Donna, "We have the old apartment to clean tomorrow."
Josh finally brings himself to speak, "I'm not moving till I wrinkle."
Giving a chuckle at Josh's comment, Leo then requests, "Wake me, when it's time to get out."
They stay a good half hour and when it gets to the point that they might nod off asleep and drown. They agree to give up the warmth and go get dried off.
Donna shares Josh's towel for her legs, "Come on Josh, after we change, we're leaving and getting some sleep. After this hot tub, I could sleep ten hours straight," she sounds like that is exactly what she plans to do.
Josh smiles softy as he watches Donna dry off, "Good idea, Donna. Sleep sounds wonderful."
Margaret and Leo are sharing his towel and Margaret voices a new thought, "Now, I know why they don't have a hot tub at the White House," Leo looks at her relaxed and takes the bait.
Smiling at her, "Why, Margaret?"
"Because, we would never leave then," she teases them, as they would be the ones to get the humor of it.
Leo chuckles at the truth of that, "You might be right."
"Donna," Margaret comments, "no hurry on coming over tomorrow. Go ahead and sleep in. We've all earned it after this week." She quickly adds sincerely, "I really appreciate all the help you two have been this week." She grins and adds, "I sure I owe you two lots of trips to the hot tub now!"
Donna hugs her around the waist, "Glad we could help, Margaret."
Josh knows a good offer, "Yeah, and we'll take you up on the hot tub deal."
They all part for the different rooms to change when they reach the apartment.
Before Josh and Donna leave, Josh lets Leo know, "While the girls are at the other apartment, I could use some help with the surround sound speakers. I want to mount some on the opposite wall. It is going to sound awesome in here."
"Sure, Josh." Leo's agreeable, "I'll heckle, I mean help you tomorrow."
"Thanks, Leo." He catches the dry wit from Leo, "But you'll appreciate it when it's done.
Leo concurs, "I know and it'll be great for our next movie night."
Donna grabs Josh's arm and heads for the door, "Come on, Josh, I'm asleep on my feet after the hot tub."
Margaret being the cautious one reminds them. "You two be careful and don't fall asleep driving on the way home."
"No fear of that," Donna explains to them, "Josh just cranks up the volume on his car stereo."
"See ya, tomorrow," Josh calls as he leaves behind Donna.
"Thanks," is Margaret's parting remark, as they close the door behind them.
"Leo. Bed." Margaret orders and then adds when he glances at the spare room. "My bed, remember the new rules. It doesn't matter that you have a new bed here." She softly reminds him, "We're here alone and that means we get to cuddle."
"Did I mention how much I like your new rules," he pulls her into a passionate kiss, before taking her hand and moving them to the bedroom, switching off the table lamp, on the way out of the living room.
Leo and Margaret are lying together in her bed, in her new bedroom, in her new apartment, with a content weariness from the day's activities. They wrap themselves together, happy to be finally cuddling.
"Margaret, there's something I've known for awhile." He pauses, his desire great to find the words needed to properly convey his sincerity. He continues in his soft rumbling voice, "Something that has been like an essence between us." He snuggles her closer, "It just 'is', softly in the background and never has been expressed before."
"Mmmm, what's that Leo," she's relaxed and cozy lying in his arms lulled by his sound of his voice in the darkness.
He kisses her gently. "That I love you, Margaret." He kisses softly again.
"Oh, Leo, I may cry," she curls her head to his chest and listens to his heart talk to her, while quiet tears wet his chest.
"As long as it's happy tears, Baby." He kisses the top of her head.
"Yes, Leo, they are," she softly smiles in the dark as she hugs his chest. She raises her head up to kiss his mouth. "I do love you, Leo. Seems like I always have." She softly voices it finally from her lips.
He agrees, "Does seem like always and now forever."
They cuddle in for the night.
The end
p.s. now the new adventures begin!
Thanks for reading my first series!
Betty Lou Riley
22nd June 2003
riley2@bright.net