Title: Bipartisanship
Author: ScarlettMithruiel
Classification: R
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Author's Note: Sorry if this is crappy. I wrote it about 10 minutes before I had to leave for the parade. Um…hope they're in character. And please review.
Ainsley sat in the living room of her childhood home, between her parents and Sam. She often dreaded this meeting that was supposed to occur so much later. Her father was a staunch Republican and Sam…was not. She feared that politics would interfere with their initial impressions. And it didn't help any that her father was extremely overprotective. No, not at all, she thought as she saw her father eye Sam, as if he was a piece of property her father was inspecting.
Sam was not intimidated by a lot of things. But, standing there, being glanced over by Ainsley's father, who happened to be somewhat of a portly man, Sam was nervous and just a bit intimidated. Okay, more than a bit, he admitted. But the larger man had dancing eyes, so Sam hoped he would make a good impression. It would not do to break up the whole Hayes family because her father had not approved of him.
"You're a bit scrawny," the older man guffawed. "Don't you eat anything?"
"I work a lot, so I eat a lot of take-out." While Ainsley's mother wore a shocked expression, her father set his jaw and was looking over Sam once more. Her mother bustled into the kitchen. Her father rolled his eyes and turned to look at the spot she had stood.
"Louise, where the hell'd you go?"
"I'm in the kitchen." The older man headed into the room, and looked at her, quickly tying her apron on.
"Why?"
She squinted, and placed her hands on her hips. "That boy eats nothing but greasy take-out every day, and I'm going to make him some food." The older man shut his eyes for a second.
"You're going to make him food." She nodded. He sighed, exasperated, and headed back out into the living room. "Well, son, apparently, she's gonna make you food." He slumped into a chair, and Sam and Ainsley sat next to each other on the sofa. He watched them carefully. She began to toy with her engagement ring. That was not lost on Sam.
"What are your intentions with my daughter?" His voice was gruff and the statement was random, and Sam was taken aback. Ainsley's face flushed with slight embarrassment. She felt like a teenager again.
"Well, I plan to marry her," Sam stated, simply.
"How're you going to be able to support her if you're at work all the time? You can't have a long, happy marriage just on money."
"Well, she works a lot too. And I'll see her. Besides, if all goes well, we'll be in the White House."
"That's right. You're running against McAllister." He leaned back in his chair and seemed to ponder something. The sound of sizzling from the kitchen was the only thing that could be heard. "What about children?"
Sam felt like all he needed was a bright light in his face for it to be a stereotypical interrogation. "I want some." The man rolled his eyes and let out a laugh.
"Of course you want some. How are you going to support them if you're in the White House? I heard stories from the Bartlet administration. If she," he stopped to point to Ainsley, "is flying out to Colombia all the time to teach English or something, and you're off planning war, who the hell is going to watch your infant or your toddler?"
"We will."
"Son, you can't be in two places at once." Sam opened his mouth to reply but he cut him off. "Besides, what are you going to do? Bring the baby into the War Room or something. Have him spitting up all over the plans to invade Sweden or something?"
Sam was thankful when Louise yelled for them to come to lunch. He certainly didn't enjoy the interrogation session. He linked his hand with Ainsley's and they headed into the kitchen. Well, this was going well, he thought. Thank God I have a day or two to convince him that I'm a good person. His jaw set as his pessimistic voice began to list off all the things that could happen if he wasn't able to convince him he was a good person. Well, we could always get married without their blessing…and I could be ostracized…and they could have a family feud. He released a breath. …sounds like a plan. Louise smiled as she set the plates in front of them.
"Go ahead, honey." Sam glanced around nervously for a second, before he began to eat. Can't exactly split up a family on an empty stomach, can I?
