A/N: Thanks for the feedback. You guys are awesome. And as a reward, here's a nice long chapter :o)


Two months later

Jamie opened the latest copy of Scoop and leaned back in her chair. Page three carried another article about Josh Lyman's supposed affair with his assistant, which Jamie knew was untrue. Of course, she had witnessed the subtext that Sam and Ainsley continuously spoke about, but she liked Donna too much to say anything. Even to her best friend, Shelley.

This issue's poll related to the upcoming wedding and whether or not the marriage would survive. Jamie's brow furrowed, she rolled the magazine up and dropped it into the bin. She knew for a fact that the marriage was not a political move. What did the writers know anyway, she thought. It was time to stop buying Scoop.

"Hi, Jamie."

She looked up and smiled at Nate and Ainsley. Then, realizing that Ainsley was supposed to be in her office, her smile faltered.

"Is my cousin here?" Nate asked.

Jamie blinked, and stared at the woman who was apparently not Ainsley.

"I'm Calleigh," the woman said. "Nate's sister."

"Hi." Jamie held out a handful of paper slips. "Your messages, Nate."

"Thanks." He laughed as he took them from her, then nudged Calleigh with his elbow. "You'd better get used to this reaction, Cal."

Calleigh rolled her eyes. "As if it's never happened before."

Ainsley's office door opened and she stepped out.

"Calleigh!"

Jamie looked from Calleigh to Ainsley, then back to Calleigh. She blinked again and shook her head. Then she started laughing.

"Hey, Jamie's finally cracked up," Nate said.

"I feel like I'm on an episode of Ally McBeal." Jamie picked up her jacket. "I'm going to take my break now, okay?"


"So, I can't believe your slave driver boss let you have time off for the wedding," Ainsley said at dinner that night.

"He understands how important family is." Calleigh passed the salad to Ainsley, then added, "And he's not a slave driver."

"Ainsley says you're a criminologist," Sam said. "What exactly do you do?"

"I'm not sure this is dinner table conversation." Ainsley dished up another helping of pasta.

Calleigh shrugged. "I process the evidence at crime scenes."

"She's the best ballistics expert on the East Coast," Nate said proudly.

"Really?" Sam sounded impressed. He leaned forward. "I guess you see a lot of dead bodies."

"Sam!" Ainsley shook her head.

"Yeah, I do." Calleigh ignored her cousin's outburst.

"And it never freaks you out?" Sam couldn't hide the touch of awe in his voice.

"You learn to deal with it."

Nate, seeing the look on Ainsley's face, stepped in, "I thought you'd bring Horatio as your date. I was hoping to meet him."

Calleigh's cheeks reddened. "He's my boss, Nate. We're friends. That's it. Besides, I'm here as your date."

"I don't count. I'm your brother."

Sam wasn't done with the previous conversation. "Calleigh, do you carry a gun?"

Ainsley groaned.

"I do." Calleigh smiled. "Of course, I didn't bring it with me."

"And your thoughts on gun control?"

"Oh no," Ainsley said, shaking her head. "We are not having this conversation now. Sam—"

He gave her an innocent look. "I just—"

"Samuel."

"Actually, I'm pretty tired from my flight. Nate?" Calleigh turned to her brother.

"Yeah. And I'm sure the babysitter needs rescuing right about now. You know what a handful the girls can be."


Ainsley sat cross-legged on the kitchen counter. Though it was the middle of the afternoon, she was eating a bowl of cereal.

"I'm sorry your dad can't make the wedding."

Sam shrugged. "I shouldn't have invited him. I knew he would find a reason not to come."

"Well, you're the better person." She put the cereal bowl down and held out her arms. "Come here."

Sam accepted her hug. "I just don't want to end up like him, you know?"

"Sam, you're the most honest person I know. And for a lawyer and a Democrat, that's saying a lot."

Sam laughed.

"Besides," Ainsley continued, "your mom will be there."

"With Ricardo."

"He's a nice guy."

"He's my age!"

"But he makes her happy."

Sam pulled back and studied his bride-to-be. He smiled. "I love you so much."

Ainsley raised an eyebrow. "Really? Maybe you should show me."


"I can't believe you're actually getting married." Calleigh helped Ainsley zip her dress then stepped back to admire her cousin, a wistful smile on her face. Ainsley's dress was simple in design: made of ivory-colored satin, it fell to mid-calf, and thin straps criss-crossed the back. Ainsley's hair was rolled into a French twist, with a few curls left free to frame her face.

Ainsley gave a nervous half-giggle. "Neither can I."

"I'm tempted to knock you out and marry Sam in your place. Do you think he'd know the difference?"

"He'd figure it out eventually. At the reception probably. When he sees how little you eat."

Calleigh nodded solemnly. "You're right. Probably not a good idea."

"Besides," Ainsley continued, "I've never seen your Horatio. How would I know who's getting the better end of the deal?"

"He's not my Horatio!"

"Cal, you talk about him all the time."

Calleigh shrugged. "It's a crush, that's all. And I don't want to talk about it."

"Okay."

Calleigh picked an imaginary piece of fluff from her own dress, a pale shade of peach, similar in style to Ainsley's dress, only longer. She turned to the mirror and pretended to fix her hair.

Ainsley had known her cousin for too long to be put off. She stepped behind Calleigh and took the brush from her. "Can I be your bridesmaid?"

"Ainsley Hayes!"

"Not for long." Ainsley gave an exaggerated sigh of contentment. "Mrs. Seaborn."

Choking back her laughter, Calleigh said, "Not another word about Horatio. Just remember, I know how to hide bodies."

There was a knock at the door and Evelyn Hayes opened it. She took one look at the two of them and shook her head. "I knew it was a bad idea to leave you girls alone. Come now, we're going to be late."


"It was a beautiful ceremony," Jamie said to Donna. The two of them were sitting at their table, studying all the guests at the reception and commenting on what the women were wearing.

Donna sighed, her gaze straying in Josh's direction. "Yes, it was."

"Though it was pretty funny when Simone announced that the kiss was gross."

"She's a kid." Donna was still watching Josh. "You know what kids are like."

"I can't believe the President's here. That's, like, the most awesome thing ever. Oh, hey, there's Zoey Bartlet. I'm going to say hi, okay?" Jamie stood and went in the direction of the First Daughter.

Donna stopped looking at Josh long enough to smile at Jamie. When she looked back at her boss, she saw him walking towards her.

"Donnatella!"

"Uh-uh. No way, Josh. I am not working today."

He frowned, genuinely confused. "I know. I was just, well, you know, it is a wedding. People are dancing. Having a good time. And I saw you just sitting here and—"

"You felt sorry for me."

"No. I thought I'd better get over here and ask you to dance before someone else did."

Donna gaped at him, speechless.

"So, will you dance with me?"

Donna smiled and accepted his outstretched hand.

On the dance floor, Calleigh and Nate were dancing together, Calleigh staring in awe at the people around her.

"This is unreal," she said. "I'm in the same room as the President of the United States. Pinch me."

When Nate did, she swatted his arm. "Ouch."

"You asked me to."

"I'd forgotten how hard you pinch."

Nate smiled, his eyes searching the room for his daughters. Simone and Nicole, wearing dresses made from the same material as Calleigh's, had been Ainsley's flower girls. All they needed, Nate thought, were wings, and they'd look like fairies.

They were drawn, oddly, to Toby. Simone stood in front of him, her hands on her hips.

"Daddy says smoking's bad for you."

Toby studied the child. "It's a cigar, not a cigarette."

Simone shrugged. "Aunt Ainsley says the lesser of two evils is still evil."

"You're related to Ainsley?"

She nodded. Nicole, the shyer of the sisters, stepped out from behind her sister and peered up at Toby. Then she grinned. Toby wasn't entirely sure what to do next, when there was a voice from behind him.

"Looks like you've made some friends."

"Mr. President." Toby stood.

Jed Bartlet sat next to Toby. "Hello, girls."

They stared at him, wide-eyed, then, at the same time, turned and ran onto the dance floor, yelling, "Daddy!"

Bartlet chuckled. "Well, that's never happened before."

Toby wisely refrained from commenting. Bartlet watched the two girls reach their father.

"That's Ainsley's cousin, right?"

Toby puffed on his cigar. "I believe so."

"It's disconcerting how similar they look. Do you think their personalities are anything alike?"

"Two Ainsleys running around America? Heaven help us."

Bartlet spotted Sam on the dance floor and stood. "Excuse me."

Sam released his wife to her brother. He turned and came face to face with the President.

"Congratulations, Sam."

"Thank you, sir."

Bartlet glanced at Ainsley, then stepped closer to Sam. He lowered his voice. "You know, she'll make a fine First Lady."

"Sir?"

Bartlet smiled. "Think about it. Now, if you'll excuse me, I believe my wife is flirting with the bride's father."

Sam barely had time to process what Bartlet had said, when Calleigh hooked her arm through his. "You know," she said with a smile, "we never had that conversation about gun control."

"How do I know you're not Ainsley in disguise, trying to confuse me?"

"Aw, shucks, you caught us. Turns out you really married Calleigh."

Sam's smile faltered for the briefest of seconds, and Calleigh started laughing.

Sam shook his head. "You two must have driven your family crazy."

Calleigh shrugged and released Sam's arm. "I like you, Sam. But don't hurt my cousin."

"I won't."

"Good." Calleigh grinned. "Because they'd never find your body."

She winked, then returned to Nate's side. Sam smiled, and wondered if it was too soon to steal his wife away. Elizabeth Seaborn came up behind him and touched his shoulder.

"You having a good time?"

He turned to her. "Best day of my life so far."

Elizabeth kissed his cheek. "Good."

"Where's, uh, Whatsisname?"

"Ricardo. He was called back to work. He's a doctor, you know."

"Really." Sam took his mother's hand. "Are you happy, Mom?"

She nodded.

"Well, in that case, would you like to dance?"