Winter Carnival
By: chipmunk
Category: Romance
Pairing: hinting at Leo and Margaret
Characters: Leo, Margaret, and Jed on the phone.
Rating: PG-13
Beta By: Lynn
Thanks to Lynn (leosimpishgrin) for the brainstorming, to find the little extras!
Thanks to Bev (adoreleo) for encouraging me to just start writing!
I think I surprised them with this one, as it wrote itself!
Disclaimer
Without Prejudice, the names of all characters& contained here-in are the property of NBC, WB, Bravo, A John Wells Prod., from TV show, The West Wing. They are the creation of Aaron Sorkin. No infringement of these or any copyrights is intended, and are used here without permission. No monetary benefit is received or anticipated.They own them; therefore, they do not belong to me. I only borrowed them , with my humble thanks to them. Any resemblance, herein, to any person living or dead, is just a coincidence.&Any Original Characters developed by me and found in this or any of my fics, belongs solely to me.
Acknowledgement: A 'grateful' and 'enormous' thanks, to the actors and actresses, who portray these characters 'brilliantly' and bring them to life in my head.
Feedback: I'd love it hear your opinion! PLEASE! It helps to improve my writing!
Note: This is a standalone fic and is NOT connected to any of my prior L/M series! But could follow 'Thanksgiving'!
Summary: Leo is thrown out of the White House early one evening and he calls Margaret to find out what he is supposed to do with no schedule for his off hours. She has just the answer to fill in his long evening alone. He can take her to the winter carnival at the neighborhood common.
&&&&&
Leo makes his usual evening call to the President early tonight and he's not very happy with his friend this evening. "Good evening, Mr. President."
The President has a cheerful tone to his voice tonight, "Hello, Leo. What are you doing with your free Saturday evening off?"
"Nothing, Sir," Leo hardly hesitates, before explaining, "Someone ambushed me, we won't name names and took my briefcase from me at the door, on my way out this evening,"
The President is grinning at his successfully blindsiding Leo's attempt to keep on working at his hotel room this evening, after he ordered Leo from the White House. "Leo, you could visit with Mallory this evening. I know she'd love to see you," his friend suggests, trying to be helpful.
"Yeah, she would, Sir, but she has a date tonight." Leo reveals that he's already spoken with his daughter, since leaving his office earlier tonight.
The President is pleased that he can now prove his point. "You could take a lesson from her, Leo. Saturday nights are great for dating. There's plenty to do in D.C., you know."
"Sir, honestly, we both know I'm too busy to date," Leo sighs at having this conversation with his long time friend, again.
The President chuckles, practically crowing with delight, "Well, you're not to busy tonight, Leo!"
"Yes, Sir. I hear you." He knows his friend is enjoying this banter. "If there's no pressing White House business we need to discuss, I'll just say goodnight now, Sir."
"OK, Leo. Try to at least relax, and maybe you'll think of something to do that will interest you." His friend is just trying to get him to lighten up in life.
"Thank you, Sir," Leo is hopeful that he can end the call soon, by not adding anything to the conversation.
The President relents and lets his friend off the hook for now, "Ok. Well… just unwind then," he pauses a beat, "Have a good night, Leo, see you on Monday!" The President almost makes it sound like an order.
"Good night, Sir," Leo says as he breathes a silent sigh of relief, wondering how he lost control of that call.
After Leo hangs up the phone, he makes a restless circuit of his hotel rooms. He pauses to stare out at the city lights, from his balcony windows. Watching with some interest the moving traffic below, curtained with a light falling snow. With a sarcastic 'humph' sound he reflects. So many people with something to do tonight and I'm here with nothing to do, but stare out my damn window. He broods some more, as he watches the scattered flakes drift past his small balcony outside. I don't date! I don't have the time to date.… I get out and see people. I go to formal functions all the time for the White House. Hell, half the women at those things are trying to snare me, like it's some kind of contest. Makes me crazy!
Leo is not pleased with his forced inactivity this evening. He paces some more around the small rooms of his hotel. Trying to find something… anything to capture his interest. Actually, his suite's almost too sterile of an environment for any sort of inspiration, even if he has lived there for so long. He really lives at his office. He just sleeps here.
Leo is at a total loss, as to what to do with his free time this evening. Even the TV sucks, he decides, after standing in front of it with the remote and flipping through all of the channels at his usual record speed.
He finally gives up his wandering and sits in the padded chair by the window. Slumped in his favorite position with his elbow on the chair arm, his jaw resting on the length of his thumb and with his curled fingers just touching the corner of his mouth, he's just contemplating his long evening alone. I'm not used to having extra time that I'm not either working or sleeping! Margaret runs my office... hell... my life…but unfortunately, she doesn't include what I'm to do during any actual... you know... non-sleeping, off hours.
Leo ponders his plight some more. I wonder what she's doing with a whole evening off? He picks up the handset of the phone beside him and quickly punches in her number. He's so glad to now have an activity to engage his interest.
&&&&&
Margaret is pleased to be home so early tonight, after, thankfully, the President cleared out the West Wing this Saturday evening. Sad to say, she's using the extra time to get caught up on her ironing. It's just a few things, but she hates the cost of sending them to the cleaners, when she can do the quick pressing herself. Even though it's winter, she has the window cracked open a wee bit and is happily humming to herself, as she applies herself to her task.
The phone rings, and she quickly props the iron on it's end, and grabbing her box of orange juice, good against colds, she steals a quick sip, as she hurries to the phone. Why is it one ever thinks to take the cordless phone with them, until you're really busy and it rings? She grabs the phone a split second before the fourth ring that would kick on the answering machine.
"Hello, Ryan residence," she sounds as professional at home on the phone, as she does at the office.
"Hey, Margaret, it's me," is what she hears in a warm familiar rumbling voice.
"Hey, Leo. What do you need?" She tries to sound cheerful with her reply, hoping that by him calling her home number, instead of her cell phone that his call is not work related.
Leo's mind flashes one quick thought, you , but he just manages to keep that thought to himself. "Relax, Margaret, I'm not calling about work. I was ah…" he decides to use a light tone with his explanation, "I just thought I'd call ya to see how your evening off is going. …I'm just sitting here doing nothing, … you know… as ordered by… you know who!"
His dry wit shows, "I'm almost to the point of twiddling my thumbs here, Margaret."
This is Margaret he's talking to and he just can't help himself from pointing out to her, "He… ah… he… he took my briefcase!"
Leo sounds like he's tattling on his friend. "Right out of my hand… he probably hid it in the Residence to keep me from finding it. As if I could actually slip back in past the door guards," Leo's grumbling at being so ill-treated, winds to an end. He knows only his Margaret would understand him.
Margaret tries not to let him hear her chuckle at his little boy like pouting. She thinks he sounds so cute, but she loves the sound of his voice all the time, even when he yells for her. It just proves to her that she's a vital part of his life.
She answers him in a soft comforting voice that he needs right now. She knows her Leo! "You'll survive, Leo! Relax, I'm sure he'll return it, 'unharmed.'"
"Very funny there, Margaret," Leo can tell she's not going to sympathize with him too much. She's on the President's side on this. "Now, I ask you, what am I going to do tonight? …Mallory's not home tonight, she's on a date." He rattles off his evening so far for her benefit, "I've tried to keep busy, Margaret. I've changed into casual clothes. I already had an early dinner downstairs, and now I don't have any files to keep me busy. So, here I sit with nothing to do!"
She's not buying into his 'poor me' attitude, "That's so sad, Leo. There you sit, in that lovely hotel room, with your every need met, by the wonderful staff. It has a nice restaurant, exercise room and pool. With a wonderful spa, with steam room, massage available and whirlpool tub. I should be so lucky," she giggles, "and you wonder why no one will join you, in the pity party that you're having over there."
He hesitates a moment and thinks to himself about her opinion of his hotel, All she has to do is ask!
He remembers where they were in the conversation and defends himself, "Humph… I'm not having pity party, Margaret. I've been forced out of my office, with nothing to do now!" He can't stop from asking, "Speaking of parties, what have you got going on over there? Is that what I think I hear? It sounds like in the background you have, of all things, a calliope playing."
She gives a short laugh, "Well, yes you do, Leo, but it's not from inside my apartment. The sound is from the Winter Carnival down the street at the Common. I opened my window just enough to enjoy the sounds from it, especially the calliope on the Merry-go-round."
He doesn't stop her happy chatter. In fact, he gives her a soft 'humm' sound, as if he's actually interested. Honestly and secretly, he likes to hear her talk of real life interests outside of work. As if she's telling him about another world or life that he never finds the time to explore outside of the White House.
Before elaborating more to Leo, she moves back to her ironing board and flips another blouse out to be pressed. The phone is cradled efficiently against her neck. She happily continues, "The local Community Center is having the carnival to raise funds for their youth programs. They have snow sculptures and ice carving contests. Hot foods and drinks that you can enjoy, as you walk around the grounds. There's lights strung in the trees and music can be heard, as you watch the kids at the small ice rink. It's a real Winter Wonderland."
Leo loves to hear her excited voice, as he settles back more comfortably into his chair.
She remembers to add, "Oh and skill games, a Ferris wheel and of course, the merry-go-round for the little kids. Which I just love to listen to!"
He chuckles at her happiness. "I guess you do at that, Margaret, if you're letting the cold air in, just so you can enjoy the sound. I didn't know they still had carnivals in the city, …maybe in the suburbs, but not… you know… not so close in. Humm… I haven't been to one, since I was in high school in Chicago."
Margaret can hear the wishful sound of Leo's voice, as he remembers. "I was considering checking it out, now that I'm home this evening, but I really didn't want to go out alone after dark, even if it is so close by." Then… she has a wonderful idea!
"Ah…Leo, you think you'd be interested in coming over here and strolling around it with me… to check it out?" She adds to be persuasive. "Like I said, Leo, it's to benefit a good cause."
His voice is a soft rumble, "Thanks, Margaret. …It does sound like a nice way to spend the evening." My Margaret and a whole evening together, with no work, actually sounds great to me.
"You'll have fun, Leo, and we could both use some time out in the fresh air," she teases him, with a happy sound to her voice, "which is 'way better' than you twiddling your thumbs, while sitting indoors."
He chuckles, "Should I check the temperature outside first? To see if we'll soon be frozen solid and mistaken for one of the displays?" He can't resist joining in on her happy mood.
"No, Leo, it's not that cold out!" She instructs him, "Just wear your long wool overcoat and wear a warm scarf and don't forget to wear your gloves."
"Stop right there, Margaret! Who are you, my mother?" It's an old tease between them. "Don't you even suggest that I wear a hat! I don't do hats!"
She laughs at his growling at her worrying he'll get cold. She knows it's a weak point of his. He hates to be cold. "OK, Leo, I quit! I promise that I'll help you stay warm this evening. I'll just have to make sure to keep you moving!"
His mind gives him another flash that makes him swallow, before he replies, "You just do that, Margaret. I trust you to keep me from freezing out there. You always know what's best for me."
"Bet your ass, Leo. When will you be over here?" Her eagerness is really showing now.
"Is there a time that's best for you, Margaret?" He lets her decide, as his time is very flexible.
"I asked, Leo, because actually you're rescuing me from my ironing board," she confesses.
"So now I'm your hero?" He tries to start the banter again.
"You'll always be a hero to me, Leo," Margaret is quick to honestly reply.
There's a pause on his end of the conversation, before she hears a soft, "Thanks!"
Margaret understands, and she wants to get the show on the road, "Come on over now then, Leo. If it's OK with you? Oh, if you still have my emergency door key, just let yourself in, as I need to put away the ironing stuff and change into some warmer clothes."
"Yeah, I do. I'll be right there." He glances outside the window, "Good idea about dressing warmer, Margaret. It's snowing lightly again."
"Wonderful! Perfect for this evening! See ya in a bit!" She's so pleased at how the evening is working out.
The phone clicks in his ear, and he has a warm smile on his face. He can always count on Margaret to lift his spirits and fascinate him at the same time. She is a wonder!
&&&&&
With new energy for the evening, Leo quickly leaves his chair to retrieve a sweater to pull on as an extra layer, before getting his coat and finding his little used car keys. My car better start, down in the underground garage. I'm going to freeze waiting for it to warm up, but Margaret promised to keep me warm. To my way of thinking that would involve her shutting that damn window that she has open in the dead of winter, and us staying at her place to get warm.
As he winds his scarf around his neck, he remembers her happy voice, If she wants us to spend the evening freezing our butts off, looking at ice and snow sculptures, I'm not complaining, well not much anyway, just as long as she's happy to share her time with me. All she has to do is ask! Leo wastes little time hurrying down to his car and over to Margaret's apartment.
&&&&&
Arriving at Margaret's door he hesitates a moment, before letting himself in with her key, as if he's at home here. Leo still gives his well-known, at the White House, two knuckles, two tap knock, as he enters. After shutting the door behind him on the cooler hallway and not seeing her in the living room, he calls out, "Margaret, I'm here!"
"Hang on, Leo, be right there!" Comes from somewhere in the back of the apartment.
She sounds funny, muffled, to him and he steps closer to the sound of her voice, but hesitates to enter the hallway.
Margaret staggers out of a room, into the hallway in front of him, with her face still covered by the flipped up collar of her turtleneck sweater.
Leo grins at the sight of her, not wondering why. He knows that Margaret is Margaret and has a very good reason for this, even if it is unusual to the world.
She can see his grinning face through the knit of the sweater. With an exasperated sigh she commands, "Leo, quit grinning and get over here. I need some help. If you don't mind?"
He chuckles at her peculiar predicament, "What did you do now, Margaret?"
"Well, it took real talent, Leo," she answers a tad sarcastically through the sweater material. "Would you believe that both of my earrings are caught in my sweater and I can't see well enough to get them loose."
"Yeah, Margaret, I would. Only you!" He moves to stand beside her and carefully works his fingers inside one side of the sweater neck, to slip it down enough to view her ear and release the earring. "Well, Margaret, I guess I'm the hero after all?" He needlessly warns, "Hold still just a few more moments."
"I'm not going anywhere. Believe me! Just don't hurt my ears," she also warns him.
"I'll do my best, but I'm working under a handicap here, …as I left my red cape back at the hotel …or maybe it's at the White House in my briefcase," He just couldn't resist teasing her.
"Very funny, Leo," she holds perfectly still, trusting him to rescue her.
He chuckles at their banter. "Seriously, Margaret, I'm going to have to take this earring out of your ear or it'll just re-snag. Your sweater keeps trying to pop back up over it."
"If you can take it out and not hurt me, that's fine." Margaret gets exasperated with herself sometimes. "I should have known better and removed them first. This is what I get for hurrying."
Leo just shakes his head wearing a slight smile at her dilemma and patiently works the earring loose. "My poor Margaret," he whispers softly between them. He places the freed earring into the palm of her hand. "Hold this."
Leo is correct. The sweater pops right back up over her ear. Stepping to her other side, he carefully repeats the same procedure for her other ear, but leaves the earring in. Leo has a grin on his face the whole time.
When the second one is finally freed and she can finish pulling the sweater down from her face, she leans forward and rewards her hero with a kiss to his cheek. Barely moving back from his face she whispers, 'Thanks, Leo! See what you can do without a cape!"
"Very funny, Margaret," he answers softly, sounding a little breathless from her face being so close to his, for the kiss and from her heady perfume. I'll be her hero anytime! All she has to do is ask!
She moves back and grins with happiness at his being here with her for the evening. Putting the first earring back into her ear, Margaret tells him, "Let me get my shoes on and my coat and then we can leave."
Leo glances down to her sock clad feet and watches her slide gracefully past him and around the apartment, clicking off all but a tiny night light in preparation to them leaving.
He moves over to shut the window that she had partly open this evening, and he can hear the sounds softly coming from the common through it.
Margaret is now grabbing her coat and scarf from the coat tree.
Leo steps over behind her in the dim lighting, to help her slip into her coat. It seems so natural to wrap his arms around her, while still holding the coat, to settle it onto her shoulders.
"Thanks, Leo." She finishes wrapping her scarf around her neck with a final flick to throw it over her shoulder. In the near darkness she can see him standing motionless, intently watching her and they silently communicate for a moment between them.
The moment is broken, as she opens the door to the hallway and the light spills in onto them.
In the spirit of fun, she reaches back for his hand, to encourage him to follow her out into the hall, "Let's go, Leo," she coaxes.
Enjoying her hand in his he willingly follows, pulling the door shut behind him and noting the click, as it locks. All she has to do is ask!
She continues to hold his hand and leads him down to the outside door. Where, as Leo warned her, it is lightly snowing.
&&&&&
They walk arm in arm down the sidewalk toward the happy sounds and twinkling lights coming from the carnival. They are both grinning and Margaret can't resist blowing her breath to see the misty fog extend out in front of her.
Leo leans his head over close to her, as they continue walking at the nice pace they have set and whispers, "Taken up smoking in your free time, have you, Margaret?"
Margaret giggles at his teasing her, "Oh Leo, this is fun smoke! You should try it!"
Leo turns to grin at her. "You don't like it when I smoke!" He proceeds to blow a cloud of white mist out in front of her face.
"Well, I must admit you are better at it than I am, Leo." She gives a small laugh and just can't resist teasing, "But it must be from all that hot air you blow on the hill." Laughing freely, she acts as if to pull away from him in fun, with their arms still looped together.
Wearing a wicked smile, he pulls her back tight against his side. "Come back here, you!" He really likes this playful side of Margaret.
Grinning she surrenders, "Leo, we're here. Be good and maybe we can indulge your sweet tooth, while we're in there tonight."
He leans over to her ear to purr softly, so that he's not overheard, "You know all my weaknesses too well, Margaret, and I'm going to keep you to that promise."
&&&&&
They stop at the entrance gateway, and naturally Margaret gives a quiet protest and Leo gives her a look that reminds her that as a gentleman he pays their way in.
Once inside he softly reminds her, "You can buy the first cup of something hot that we have to drink. You also promised to keep me warm," he makes eye contact with her and gives her that grin of his that definitely warms a woman's heart.
Walking around with cups of hot cocoa while they get their bearings, Margaret is starting to worry that maybe they should have worn something on their heads, as it really is a cold crisp night. She spots the perfect item in a near by booth.
She releases his arm to step over and view the items, "Leo, this is what we need to buy! Now to pick which color to get?"
Leo looks from behind her at the display and can't restrain his surprise. "They're earmuffs, Margaret! You want me to purposely buy and wear them in public? Are you my mother again?"
Margaret looks him straight in the eye and answers, as she can tell by the way he's hunkering down into his coat collar that he 'is' cold, "Yes, if I have to be!"
She switches back to being fun and grabs up a bright blue pair to hold to her head, "How do you like these on me?"
He can't resist her fun side and grins at the sight, "Wonderful, Margaret!" In no way does he view her as his mother!
Leo knows he's lost this argument from the moment he realized she was serious. "If I must wear earmuffs, I'm getting basic black!"
Margaret is getting brave now, "You sure you don't want these cute snowman head ones?"
"Woman," he growls in fun at Margaret, as he at the same time hands a bill to the smiling salesgirl.
Grinning, Margaret pops hers onto her head and then takes Leo's from his hand, before he can tuck them into his pocket. With a smile of happiness, she adjusts them and reaching over, puts them onto his head and snugly over his ears.
He tilts his head to the side sarcastically and grins, "Happy now?" His breath misting out between them in the cold.
"Sure am!" She takes his gloved hand, "Leo, I think I see a display over there that looks like they're making fudge right here."
"Fresh fudge? Lead on, Margaret, you have my attention now!" She can be my warm and sweet anytime.
&&&&&
After finishing their cocoa and a good sampling of fudge, Leo just had to have two different pieces to try. They next stroll over to Margaret's carnival weakness.
Stopping to watch the children having fun on the merry-go-round. Leo stands behind her with a hand resting on her shoulder, as she happily takes in all the lights, color and sounds in front of her.
"Leo?" He knows what she's asking him, with that begging tone to her voice.
"No way!" Leo quickly refuses to ride.
"Not on a horse, Leo! We can sit in the sleigh, on the merry-go-round." She tries to be logical with him, in the faint hope he might be persuaded
"I'm Sorry, Margaret. I really am, but…" Leo still refuses to ride, hoping that his refusal will not put an end to the happy mood they have going tonight.
Margaret sighs with understanding and leans back against Leo, to let him know that she's not unhappy with him, while she soaks in the music of the calliope. Leo has automatically slipped his arms around her, to keep them warm.
Margaret quietly speaks, "Someday, Leo, I'll get to ride on the Merry-go-round again. I may have to hurry, but someday I'll have some kids of my own and I hope they'll love the sound of the calliope playing, as much as I do. It'll be fun to ride it with them. I guess I'll always be a little girl at heart."
Hearing the wistful sound in her voice. His heart, as a parent, goes out to her. This is again having intriguing ideas flashing into Leo's head. Margaret wants kids. Ok! Again, I'll she has to do is ask! With her settled in my arms, I better clear my head of that thought!
When the ride comes to a stop, Margaret moves from his arms and he holds out his elbow for her to take, as they move to stroll along the areas set aside for the snow sculptures and the ice carving. Neither one can decide which one they like best, as several are truly amazing. They are both astonished as to what can be artistically created with frozen water, a chisel and a creative mind.
&&&&&
They arrive at far end of the Common that is busy with families enjoying the small ice rink that is set up for the kids. They enjoy hot cider this time, as they watch the kids skate around with happy tinkling music playing from somewhere to add to the atmosphere.
Seeing an empty bench overlooking the rink, they try sitting for a short while in the cold. Margaret is so captivated in watching the kids moving around on the ice. Looking to distinguish if any may of them is more graceful and agile than the others. You never know, maybe one is a future star in the rough.
Margaret tries not to ignore Leo, as they watch, so she asks, "Leo, you mentioned earlier on the phone that you went to winter carnivals in the Chicago area. I never really thought about it before, but we both grew up in cold climates."
With a smile, Leo watches her eyes dart around the rink with keen interest. "Does that also mean you know how to skate, Margaret?"
She doesn't take her eyes off the ice, "Yes, but it's been years." After a beat and still watching the children, she continues, "How about you, Leo? Back then, were you daring enough to risk life and limb playing ice hockey with the big guys?"
Leo nods his head to the side, "I must confess. I was a bit of a risk taker even as a teenager, but it's been a lot of years since I had on a pair of hockey skates."
"Not brave enough to try it now?" She has a cheeky grin on her face.
Leo points out the flaws in her challenge, "Well, in the first place, this rink is only for kids and I'd definitely have to get my feet under me again, after so many years."
Margaret smirks at him, "Yeah, you'd just break your bony butt with your first step on the ice, while I'd be skating gracefully away!"
Leo looks at her for a long moment to see if she's serious, "I'll have to decline your challenge for now, Margaret. If I break something, there'll be hell to pay at the White House." The President would probably laugh himself silly and at the same time, he'd also be feeling sorry for me.
Leo knows just what to do with her challenge. "Margaret, we go to Manchester in two week and if the cold weather continues till then, the big farm pond should be frozen solid. We can see how well you skate away from me then."
Margaret is so pleased at how this is turning out. "It's a deal, Leo! Better get your skates dusted off and sharpened. I'll be sure to bring mine along!"
Leo assures her, "They have lots of skates at the farm, from over the years, to fit everyone."
"That's great, Leo, but I have my figure skates that fit me just fine." Margaret is wearing her secret little smile that so intrigues him.
Leo has the feeling he better check into purchasing and sharpening a new pair of skates. He suspects that Jed and he have probably trashed the men's skates at the farm over the years. She's awfully confident. I wonder why? Just how good is she on the ice?
&&&&&
Not much later, Margaret is still watching the children skating and Leo is just about bone cold. Trying to ignore the cold, he silently studies her lovely profile.
She glances at him and catches him watching her. Smiling at his scrutiny, she asks, "What?"
Leo can't resist his dry humor again, "Margaret, you look nice and warm in your coat! I just may have to join you in it, …if it gets any colder, …and before I freeze!" She did promise!
Her eyes sparkle from the cold and his teasing, but she resists the comeback remark that pops into head and agrees, "It sure is warm, Leo, that's what I bought it for. We better get moving before you're frozen solid!" She stands and pulls him up by his elbow, in case he 'is' froze stiff from sitting. "Come on, I'll hold you snugly beside me, maybe that would help thaw you out?" I wouldn't mind holding Leo snugly more often! Damn, his dimple is working its winter magic again.
&&&&&
Needing to walk around again to keep warm, they move into the area of the 'chance of skill' games. Margaret looks at the booths set up on both sides of the pathway.
The booth workers are calling out to the people passing by. They're trying everything from flirting, to challenging, to get the patrons to part with a buck for a good cause and win the little lady a prize.
They walk slowly, as Margaret is interested in the different games and is figuring in her head the odds of someone actually winning.
She's checking out the shelves of prizes lined up on the back walls in each booth for something that might catch her eye. "Leo, are you going try to win me something here?"
"Nay, you can never win these things, Margaret. They are so rigged." At her frowning look, he admits, while emphasizing his point with his hand, palm up, in front of them, "Yes, once in a while they 'let' someone win, to lure the others in to lose their money."
"Leo, you're just being a 'fuddy duddy'. This is for fun and for a good cause." Even though he's smiling at her opinion of him. She can tell that he's not budging. "It can't be that hard, Leo. Teenagers win them all the time!" Margaret can't believe that Leo is unwavering with his opinion,
Leaning his head slightly to the side, Leo challenges her with a cocky grin, "Well, if you think it's so easy, Margaret, you win one!" He's so sure that she'll never win, and he also knows that if she does win, his male ego is not that fragile that he would be threatened by her besting him at a game of chance. He's not exactly as self-assured in other chances he has considered with her in his mind tonight.
Margaret's back straightens with the challenge, "Ok, I will, Leo. It just takes patience and concentration." Shaking a gloved finger at him, she states, "You also don't let the guy running the booth rattle you. Let me find one I want to try." Margaret is now on a quest to prove that she's right, for the moment, totally forgetting the cold.
She glances up and down the row. "Over there, Leo. That one!" Margaret points to a game where they throw softballs at a row of hairy monkeys.
Leo knows that is one of the oldest scams of the carnival games. The monkey bodies are narrow, and the soft fur around them is long. "Margaret, that's a difficult game. You have to be dead center on each head, and you have to get three out of four to win a decent prize." He hopes to deter her from picking this game.
"Just stand back, Leo McGarry! I throw a mean softball," Margaret warns him, as she's already digging into her coat pocket for her wallet.
Leo grins and takes a step back, as if to take her seriously of him being in danger next to her. She can hurt me anytime, but preferably not in public and hopefully with no telling marks left showing. I really have to quit this, or she 'will' hurt me, if she ever guesses what's going on in my head... He watches quietly, as she pays for the softballs lined up in front of her.
"Here, Leo," barely looking back at him, she hands her gloves back for him to hold, as she's already analyzing which possible target to start with.
"Yes, ma'am." Leo can't resist a tease at her taking the challenge so seriously.
Margaret has on her serious, determined look, as she targets in on a furry monkey.
She winds up her pitching arm and with her scarf ends swinging, she pulls her left knee up as far as her long coat will allow and stepping forward, lets the first ball fly from her hand.
Leo is grinning with amazement, when the ball hits a monkey dead center in the face and flips backwards. "All right, Margaret! You got the first one. Just two more to go!"
She flips him a confident look over her shoulder, "Right you are, McGarry! Number two coming up or down, as it may be!" She gives the ball a small toss up from the palm of her hand, as she picks her next target.
Just as she decides, the man in the booth yells out to the crowd that she's about to pitch and asking them if she can get two in a row!
Margaret gives the man her most pointed look, and Leo is behind her, shaking his head and silently mouthing the word 'no' at the guy. The few people watching have grins on their faces, at Leo's antics behind Margaret's back.
The man sees that both of them are serious. He smiles cheekily and wisely steps back, knowing to stay out of range, when a woman with a softball in her hand is glaring at him.
Margaret refocuses on her chosen monkey and lets the next ball fly. It passes smoothly between the furry necks of two of the monkeys.
"Ooops," slips out of Leo's mouth, before he can stop it. The mist of his breath is marking his error in the air.
She slowly looks back at him and notes that he's wearing his best impish grin, to save his skin. She also gives the man in the booth a quick glare, before picking up her third ball.
The men are both wisely silent, as she twists the ball between her two hands.
After again picking a monkey to bean in the head, with real determination showing on her face, she pitches the ball. The monkey makes a smacking sound, as the ball gets it in the face and down it goes.
"Ahhh!" A satisfied sigh of relief is heard from Leo behind her, as Margaret lets out the breath she was holding, in a small cloud of warm air.
The man at the booth knows that he may be risking his life, but goes ahead and lets the crowd behind Leo know that she needs only one more monkey for a prize and that she has only one more ball to do it. He gets totally quiet, when she picks up her last ball.
Leo whispers behind her, "Relax. Take your time! Breathe!"
Staring at the ball in her hand, she gives a small nod of her head that she understands, as if he's her coach.
Margaret raises her head and takes a step to the left, so that she's not cross throwing at her last monkey target.
Just before she throws, she whispers to herself, "You're going down monkey." She takes a breath and holds it, till she throws and breathes out, as she releases the ball from her fully extended arm.
Smack! The monkey takes the ball on the ear and so does the monkey just next to it, and they both go down with one ball.
Margaret gives a hop of joy, as she spins around to face Leo. He has his arms wide for her, as she flings herself back to him. "Did you see? Did you see me get two with one ball? I got four monkeys down!" She's also so happy to be wrapped in his arms. He gives the best hugs!
"Yeah, you sure did, Honey, … I mean… umm… Margaret! I'm so proud and happy for you. Josh and Toby will never believe this, but you did it!"
"I better get my prize to show them." She whirls back around to the booth worker. "What did I win?"
"Lady, you won the pick of your choice, of any stuffed animal hanging in here." He adds with some admiration, "Congratulations. You have a great throwing arm!"
"Yep, that's what I told Leo. Thanks!" Her eyes dart around the prizes, and she points a finger. "I'd like that penguin. If I may?"
As the worker places a hand on the largest prize in the booth, he tries to tempt her, "Not this giant bear?"
"No thanks, the penguin is the one I want! Please!" She insists on the prize of her choice.
"Ok, here you go, Lady!" He shouts out to the crowd, "We have a winner here folks! The lady won herself a fine penguin! Anyone else want to try?"
Margaret hugs her prize in front of her and hooks her arm through Leo's again, as they leave the booth area.
Leo leans his head to hers, as they walk away, "You did really good, Margaret! You amaze me," he places a quick kiss to her cheek.
Margaret is blushing with happiness, or it might be from Leo's praise or maybe from his peck to her cheek in public. I'm so happy with this evening has turned out. His kiss is all the prize I really needed.
They walk past a few more game booths, when she asks, "Leo, over there's a shooting gallery. You wanna try your luck?" Maybe he's changed his mind about the games.
He grins at her good naturedly, "Nah, you won the prize tonight. I just want you to enjoy being the game winner tonight."
"Thank you, Leo. You're a real sweetie tonight!" She hugs his arm tighter to her side, in her joy.
"Don't let that get around on The Hill, Margaret." He places his free hand on his chest, "I have my tough guy reputation to keep!" Leo can't help joining her at chuckling at his bad attempt to be funny.
&&&&&
Not too much later, they stroll in their circuit of the carnival area, back toward where they came in. In the center of the carnival is a Ferris wheel that's lit up with bright, colorful lights around its rim.
With her head craned back, Margaret watches to see the happy, but chilly, riders appear over the top, as the wheel turns. Margaret asks wistfully, "Leo, could we do one ride, while we are here? Please?" Her eyes shift from his face, to the huge wheel in front of them and back to his eyes. Letting him know her desire to ride it.
Leo grins at her hopeful face, "Ok, Margaret, I take it you want to ride the Ferris wheel?"
Her face lights up, "That would be great, Leo." In the next instant, Margaret asks seriously, "If you don't think you would be too cold?"
Leo assures her, "We can ride, Margaret. You know how I love to be up in the air! I think I'll survive the cold a little longer, so we both can have this treat!" Leo leads her over to wait for the ride to finish and unload.
They line up for the ride and are soon seated in bench number five. The ride operator offers to hold Margaret's stuffed animal, as he tucks a blanket around their legs and clicks the safety handrail down across their laps.
As they move back one spot, so the next seat can be unloaded and reloaded, Leo remarks, "At least the wind is not blowing tonight. It's just as cold as 'blue hell' tonight!"
Margaret grins at his cursing the cold and pats her hand to his chest, as a friendly scold, but she moves a little closer to him to help fight the cold off.
Actually, Leo's a little nervous right now. Not with the ride, but with how he should behave with Margaret sitting beside him on the ride.
I don't know if I should hold her hand or put my arm around her, like some couples do on a Ferris wheel. At least that's how I used to ride with a girl on a Ferris wheel, but back then it was with my steady girlfriend Teresa. Then again, Margaret is the steadiest person in my life and has been for a long time.
Seeing Leo shift some in his coat, as if to block out more of the cold, Margaret remembers her promise to him. We're just going to have to snuggle together to keep warm. Like that'll be a hardship for me tonight, or any night!
She wiggles over tighter against Leo's side and gives him a cheeky smile.
In return Leo gives her his crooked grin, with his dimple showing, "All set there, Margaret?"
"I'm just trying to keep you warm like I promised, Leo. How am I doing so far?" She grins happily at him. I so love that dimple!
He gives into his better instincts and wraps his arm around behind her and pulls her snugly against him. "That's better now, Margaret, thanks! I feel good and warm with you close beside me." He pats his outside earmuff with his free hand. "We can't forget that our earmuffs will keep us warmer."
Margaret giggles at his teasing her about the muffs, and he has been a good sport with wearing them. "Well, Mama knows best, Leo!"
Leo gives a small mock growl at her banter. Foxy mama if you ask me! Damn, but my mind has a way of its own tonight.
Leo decides that he better find them a topic of conversation, or he may not be responsible for his actions. "Did they have winter carnivals where you grew up in Vermont?"
"Yeah, they did, Leo. Every February. So this one seems like an early one to me." She wiggles again, just loving the fact of sitting beside him, in his arms, and away from the hectic life of the White House.
Looking down at the ground several feet below them at the others waiting in line, she continues. "My girlfriends and I used to go to the winter carnival looking for boys to met. We loved watching them play the games and showing off on the ice rink for us."
Leo chuckles to himself, "Yeah, we did the same thing. A bunch of us young guys would be trying to get the attention of a group of girls. Then we'd each see if one of them would go on a ride with us, so we could put an arm around our girl for a little while. Just like I am now!" He gives her a nice squeeze with the arm around her shoulders.
Margaret can't resist teasing, "And what else did you hope for with the girl you had your arm around?"
"Well, I usually got to hold hands with her, after the ride, for the rest of the evening." He takes her right hand with his, seeing if she'll blush or pull it away.
Margaret is not averse to holding his hand at all. It feels so right to her, but she covers any awkwardness with banter. "You're going to try and tell me that the risk taking Leo McGarry did not try to put the moves on that girl in your arms?"
Margaret adds, before she thinks of what she's confessing. "I at least got my first kiss at a winter carnival and on a Ferris wheel at that."
Leo grins, looking cocky, as he counters, "Well, I guess I have to confess. I did steal a kiss or two, and it probably was on a Ferris wheel. It's a great ride for cuddling!"
Margaret can't tear her eyes off of his face. Oh, I do love that dimple of his! He's driving me crazy with it tonight!
She covers her staring at him by asking, "Leo, how could you steal a kiss, right out in public? She had to have let you kiss her and that's not stealing; that's sharing." The debate is on now!
Leo is 'the best' at winning debates and her questioning his past romantic conquests prompts him to, without thought, prove his point, "Just like this!" Leo shifts his arm to pull her closer to his face and kisses her full on the lips.
Her hand instinctively rests against his chest to hold her weight, and she closes her eyes at the last split second.
Leo tilts his head to better access her lips, as their bodies mold together to enjoy this new experience.
It was a kiss that both seemed to really enjoy, while it lasted. Slowly pulling only slightly away from each other. They both are quiet and thoughtful in its aftermath. Their lips may be cold, but their cheeks are now flushed brightly, first from the cold, now with the heat of the kiss.
With his eyes sweeping her face for her reaction, Leo discovers that he likes to make her blush, "Just like that, Margaret," he whispers to her. All she had to do was ask!
She whispers back, "I still say it was not stealing." Her eyes telling him more than her words, before she settles back against his side, snuggling under his arm again.
They both cuddle silently for the short remainder of the ride. As they start to move down to the unloading position, Leo gives her a quick kiss to her temple and she squeezes his hand that she was still holding, in thanks.
&&&&&
After retrieving her penguin, they walk away from the Ferris wheel, Leo smiles at seeing her face looking so fresh and revitalized in the brisk night air. From the look of eagerness still on Margaret's face, he knows that they 'do' need to get out of the office environment more and enjoy fresh air. But does it have to be so damn cold! I'm the one freezing here.
Margaret is not ignorant of Leo shivering and suggests that they stop at the bon fire that the carnival provides, for just this reason.
They watch the flickering flames for a short while. Because of his being a gentleman, he's standing behind her, so she gets most of the heat. Margaret can tell this is not working for Leo! He's not very successful at hiding his slight tremors from the cold.
"Leo, it's been a wonderful evening, but I think we've both taken all the fresh air we can stand for one night. We may go into shock, since we've not had our noses out of the White House, for this long in weeks." Margaret hooks her arm into his again and moves them toward the exit of the carnival area.
As they near the exit, Margaret suggests. "Leo, can we get some more hot chocolate, to keep our hands warm, as we walk back to my apartment?"
"Yeah, sounds great to me, Margaret. We may have to keep moving in place, as we're served or we'll freeze." He chuckles at her giving him a 'bad joke' look. "Hey, I was just teasing on the phone, but now I'm starting to think I might have been right, …about us becoming a frozen display." He gives her his best, 'I'm honest here' look, with a wide grin.
"Leo, we'll be fine, once we get inside my apartment and get warmed up," she assures him like a scold, but has to finally smile at his grinning face. Kill me now. I so love that dimple.
&&&&&
On their walk along the night street, Leo looks up at the bright shining stars, knowing that the night is colder without any cloud cover to hold in the warmth of the city.
He looks down to his hot chocolate cup in his hand for a few moments, and he gets a warm idea. Leo looks over at her, "Whatcha doing tomorrow, Margaret?" Leo asks, with a cocky smirk.
"I hope to go to the gym tomorrow. That is if I can dodge my boss, so he doesn't drag me into work," she teases him.
"I don't think that will be a problem, Margaret." Leo growls out, "…with my briefcase locked away for the weekend. I also think the President would order me physically tossed out, if I stepped one foot inside the West Wing tomorrow, without an invitation from him personally." Leo is only half-teasing.
Margaret looks over at Leo to see how serious he is. Thinking to herself that she may have to stand between those two, one of these days. "Seriously, how do you know that, Leo?"
"When I called him earlier tonight, he ended the call with 'see you Monday'!" Leo has a slight scowl on his face, at his friend outmaneuvering him this evening.
"Yep, sounds like you got banned all right, Leo." Margaret tries not to smile too much at Leo's dilemma and her good fortune. "So, what are your plans for tomorrow, if you were twiddling your thumbs already tonight?"
"I ah... I thought I might invite you over to my hotel tomorrow, as a treat, to enjoy the hot tub," Leo makes a roundabout offer, his fingers crossed; hoping she'll jump at the chance.
Margaret's mind is spinning at his offer, so she stalls for time to work it out to her satisfaction, "I don't know, Leo! It is tempting, but I really was looking forward to a good workout. After pigging out on all the junk we just indulged ourselves with tonight, I'll need to work it off." Margaret rubs a hand across her middle, as if she's worried that the calories are already adding to her waist.
"You already look fit and trim to me," he honestly admits to her. "If you insist on going to work out tomorrow, I ah… I can arrange for you to still use the hot tub, anytime you want." He takes it that she's declining his offer gently.
Margaret has a wonderful idea, "Well, Leo, I'll might agree to your invitation, if we could work out first, before we enjoy the hot tub." She smoothly roped him into that one and for a beat or two she hears silence from Leo.
It boggles his mind. How did she twist that around? "Margaret, you want me…," he points to his chest, "…to join you tomorrow?" He looks at her with some skepticism, "To work out and then get in the hot tub together?"
The visual works for him, of her glistening with sweat and then wet all over in the hot tub... Now it seems like he's going to have to 'pay the piper' to get that treat.
She looks him in the eye, so he knows she's serious. "Leo, I know damn good and well that your hotel has an excellent workout room and I plan to drag your butt down there tomorrow to use it. It'll probably be the first time you've ever set foot in the room, since you moved in!" She tries to sound firm, but ends her speech with an anxious look.
He nods his head to the side, as an act of confession. He gives in, "OK." When she's wearing that hopeful look on her face, how can I tell her no?
Margaret is in disbelief, "OK? As in… really OK? You'll work out with me tomorrow?"
He gets another flash that he better not dwell on, or he's going to embarrass himself. "Yeah! We can workout. You can make me suffer tomorrow to your heart's content." He confirms his crazy decision.
"Oh, it will be great, Leo! Don't worry, I won't hurt you." She gives him a happy kiss on the cheek. She's so happy with tomorrow's plans! OK, so I gave into my fascination with his dimple!
Leo nearly touches his cheek with his fingertips, but redirects his hand to his coat collar. That's twice tonight that she has kissed 'me', without a second thought! … I admit, I'm guilty of two kisses myself, including that great one the ride, so we're even now! Is it something in the air tonight?
&&&&&
Arriving back at her place, with cold reddened cheeks and eyes damp from the brisk air, they savor the warmth of her apartment, as they quickly step through the door.
"Leo, I know we just had hot chocolate on the way here, but I can put on some coffee, to help thaw us out!" Margaret quickly slips out of her coat, after stuffing her new earmuffs into the pocket. "I'll turn the furnace up a notch to kick on the heat."
Leo is just standing there with his coat on, like he's not sure that he's ready to discard any layers that are holding in what little warmth his body is giving him.
Margaret instructs him, "Take your coat and shoes off, Leo, and go stand on the heat register in the floor, to get warm!" Margaret softens her order. "It's one of the nice perks of these old buildings." She leaves him to decide what to do.
Calling to her with his agreement, "OK, on the hot coffee offer," Leo doesn't need to be told twice and has his coat off in record time.
Soon he's standing there in his socks, as ordered and sighs happily with a smile, as the heat starts to rise around him. His fingers are held out to catch the rising heat, as he wiggles his thawing toes, and he's leaning ever so slightly forward, so the warmth flows up past his chilled face. He's one happy man at this moment!
Margaret calls from the kitchen, "Leo, the coffee will be just a minute." She walks back into the living room. She smiles at the sight of him, "Leo, you'll need give up your spot on the heat, to come and drink your coffee."
Leo chuckles and grins at her, "Sorry, but I think before I go to the kitchen to drink coffee, I need to use your facilities, if you don't mind. I'm sloshing from all the hot drinks you kept feeding me all evening to keep me warm."
Margaret chuckles softly, "Oh, Leo, that's fine. But, I did promise to keep you warm!" She grins, as she points the way to the restroom. "I have to confess. I've already made a pit stop at the 'facilities' on my way to make coffee. I had to wash my hands first anyway," Margaret makes a hasty retreat back to the kitchen.
"Yeah, that's fine, you just let me suffer!" He states, as he regretfully leaves his heat source, to get some other sort of relief, before he goes in search of her and more hot coffee.
&&&&&&
Across the small snack bar in her cozy little kitchen, they stretch it out to two cups of coffee and a nice review of the evening, before they both have to admit that the evenings activities in the cold air have them both tired out. Not to mention the day that they put in at the office, before the President threw them out.
After Leo puts his shoes and coat on, Margaret surprises them both by giving him a soft, quick kiss on the cheek, "Thanks for the wonderful evening, Leo." She quickly steps over to open the door for his departure.
Leo gets braver, as he steps to the doorway, and he returns her kiss on the cheek, he's grinning, as he softly explains, "Just so we're even on the kisses for the night!"
Margaret can't resist teasing him one last time and points out, "Well, we wouldn't want one of us to feel cheated, since you only know how to steal kisses on a Ferris wheel."
He chuckles and boasts, "I know how to kiss, without stealing one!"
"Sure you do," she enjoys his company and is comfortable with playfully taunting him
"Yeah, like this," Leo lays a loud smacking firm kiss on her lips and they both end up laughing at his overdone kiss.
Margaret is learning so much about Leo tonight. Of the playful side of him, and that he's not too shy to kiss her. His kisses tonight tell her a lot that is not being said by him, or in fact, either of them. They really don't need words for all that they say to one another.
She goes for broke, I'll show him how to kiss goodbye! She leans in and cups the side of his face that's wearing his crooked smile and then quickly placing her other hand to his waist for balance, she gives him a soft lingering kiss that he feels to clear down to his tippy toes.
When his heels return to the carpet, Leo has an amazed look on his face, as she slides her hand down his face and slowly pulls away, shyly avoiding his eyes. This was by far the most intimate kiss they have ever shared, neither daring to hope where it might… it could lead them.
She gives a satisfied chuckle at the look on his face and tells him, "Good night, Leo," and she playfully shoves him fully out the door. Shutting the door firmly between them to stop any further temptation, she leans against it, gently touching her fingertips to her lips, and smiling at the spontaneous and wonderful evening she just spent with Leo. What will tomorrow bring?
In the hallway, Leo stands still, just looking at her closed door, forgetting for a moment how to walk or even what his name is. I n the next moment he has a jaunty spring to his rolling walk, as he makes his way down the hall wearing a wide crooked grin on face.
All she had to do was ask!
&&&&&
The End
blessings
chipmunk
Imp
We would love to hear your opinion! PLEASE!
Feedback: good, bad or in between, is still wonderful to receive.
Posted January 18th 2005