Sam Seaborn watched his wife work the room. He suddenly caught her eye, she smiled at him rasing 2 fingers; the code for we can leave in 20 minutes. He had to admit the Austrian Embassy looked very festive with evergreen trees decorated in white and red lights. It just didn't feel like 2 weeks before Christmas.
"So what are you up to these days Samuel?"
Sam whipped around and was greeted by the current deputy communications director, Thomas Deveraux. Sam wasn't overly fond of the man that stood in front of him. He was very dedicated to his job but was a notorious butt kisser.
"I'm playing the dutiful role of an ambassador's husband. I'm a father of a 4 year old, and a thorn in the side of a 17 year old. In my spare time I teach at Georgetown and occasionally hit the speaker's circuit. Why are you here?"
"A friend's friend needed a date with a title and I was available. Do you miss not having a title?"
"Are you serious? Last time I checked husband, father, professor were pretty impressive titles." Sam replied calmly.
"Sorry. I didn't mean it that way."
"Thomas, you get 8 years in the White House if you're lucky. In the end, your legacy is what you tried to accomplish. The title means nothing if you were just there. Now, if you'll excuse me I see my wife and we haven't danced in a while."
Mara felt a cool hand on her exposed back and felt the tiny S he gently carved into her back with his nail. The hand moved up further tracing her spine with two fingers before gently playing in the ultra fine baby hairs at the back of her neck.
"Lara, please tell me that my husband is behind me."
"Yes, he is."
"Sam, you remember Lara from passport control?"
"Yeah. Hi Lara. What're you doing here?"
"I date an Austrian Embassy accountant. I'll leave the two of you alone and go find my own date."
"You missed me that much ?" Mara asked as she looked into her husband's eyes.
"Deveraux cornered me and I couldn't take it. He asked what it was like to no longer have a title, as if that mattered."
"Ah he's just a big old donkey's behind. How about we have one last dance, then head home..."
The music had changed to the Vienna Woods Waltz, Mara's favourite, so they danced one more waltz before leaving. A light snow had started during the evening and coated the outside world in a thin blanket of white. The trees trimmed in red and white lights outside the Embassy gave a festive twist and provided a certain glow.
"Isn't it romantic Sam?"
"Of course. We are together and romance follows us. You look magnificent tonight, especially since your dress is the same emerald colour as your eyes."
"Thank you darling, but somehow I think you can't resist the cleavage factor either."
"True, and I want that dress to be a pool around your ankles so let's get home fast."
"I'm not in the mood, Sam. I'm really quite tired. There's no sense in waking Matthew up just to put him to bed in our place. Ainsley said she'd keep him all night."
"That is so unfair! We have the house completely to ourselves and we aren't taking advantage. I believe there's a law against that."
"Cute, show me the law and I'll agree I'm breaking it."
"You're no fair Mara."
"Sam, you've known that since the day you met me."
"Jenna'd better be home when we get there," Sam said
"It's 10:40. I told her she had to be home by 11:30. Don't forget, we've only had minor curfew problems with her. It's not like she's coming home at 3 am."
"I know, but I still think she's too young to be dating."
"Samuel Norman, I was dating at 16 and Jenna's 17. She's the right age to date. She only had Jacob over here when she was younger and Jacob didn't try to pressure her. She loves him, Sam, and there is nothing we can do about it."
"Actually there is plenty we can do about it," Sam replied.
"Sam, the fatherly love is adorable, but I repeat we will not dare alter the course of true love. You can tease me about watching sappy movies all you want but Jenna met a young man worthy of her."
The next morning when Sam leaned over to kiss Mara she asked him to get the Christmas tree. She left work early, came straight home and found Sam wrestling with a set of coloured lights.
Jenna was putting another string around Matthew which delighted him
"Look, Mommy! I'm like the tree."
Mara crouched down beside him and touched one of the lights. She gave him a kiss and suggested Jenna find a better way to untangle the lights.
"He's a pretty effective cylinder, Mara. You tell him which way to turn and presto! Untangled lights ready to go on the tree."
"He enjoys it, honey, and I can use all the help I can get untangling these lights."
"Samuel Norman Seaborn, what am I going to do with you?"
"Kiss me."
Mara shook her head while closing the gap between them. She indulged her husband with a long romantic kiss.
"Mommy and Daddy are sucking face," Matthew announced.
"Hey where did that come from?" Mara asked.
"Uncle Josh."
Jenna was killing herself laughing, Sam was chuckling when Matthew decided to laugh himself.
"Uncle Josh and I will be having words about this," Mara stated giving Sam a look.
"Why don't you go change and come join us? Jenna already made dinner," Sam replied calmly.
Mara went upstairs without further comment while Jenna and Sam exchanged a look that said, 'phew she's in a good mood today'. By the time Mara came back downstairs, all the lights were on the tree and Jenna was putting plates of pasta on the table.
"Sorry I took so long, but I got beeped to weigh in on a international matter. The tree looks great. What type of pasta is this Jenna?"
"Penne a la vodka."
"I'm famished," Sam stated as he sat down and took a mouthful, "Very delicious."
After dinner, Mara and Sam brought up the Christmas decorations from the wine cellar. Matthew loved hearing the stories of special ornaments and got to hang a few unbreakable ornaments on the lower half of the tree. With his arm extended as far as it would go he made it 1/3 of the way up the tree. Visitors to the mansion would now be subjected to Matthew's story of how he decorated the Christmas tree. After a hot chocolate, Matthew let it be known that he did a lot of work that day and was retiring for the evening.
Sam followed his son upstairs and helped him get into his PJ's. Once Matthew was snuggled in bed, Sam asked him what story he'd like to hear.
"Tell me the one where Mommy is a fire breathing dragon and Uncle Josh is a fry from a happy meal."
Surprised Sam asked, "How do you know that?"
"Uncle Josh tells it to me when I stay with him and Aunty Donna."
"Well...Uncle Josh will have to share that story with me since I don't know it. How about I tell you the story of Mommy and I in the Bahamas?"
"At the Atlantic hotel?"
"Close buddy, it's the Atlantis Hotel. Mommy joined Grandpa Jed on a trip to a Caribbean summit..."
Sam told his son a heavily-edited story that focused greatly on the pools and waterslide through the shark habitat. After the story, Sam gave his son a kiss on the forehead, told him he loved him and left the room. Matthew had always been a very good sleeper and fell into heavy sleep quickly. The bookshelf in his room could fall over and Matthew wouldn't hear a thing.
A few days later, Washington got its first official snow storm. Classes were canceled which allowed Sam to spend the day with Matthew. Sam made them both a bowl of porridge and asked Matthew if he wanted to make snow angels and a snowman in the front yard, knowing he'd say yes.
"Daddy, the snowman is done and I'm getting cold. Can we go in for hot chocolate?"
"Sure, my love. Do you want marshmallows and whipped cream?"
"With cinnamon in the hot chocolate like Mommy does it?"
"I think I can fulfill that request."
"This is fun, Daddy. I like spending time with you."
"I love spending time with you, too, Matthew."
After the hot chocolate, Sam picked up a large treasury of Christmas stories and pulled Matthew on to his lap. Sam read him four stories before he fell asleep. Knowing that the days of his son wanting to fall asleep in his arms were fleeting, Sam closed his own eyes and enjoyed fatherhood.
Mara found the little scene in front of her so sweet she took a picture. She was surprised when Sam spoke to her.
"Thought I was asleep, didn't you?"
"Yeah, I did. I really like the snowman outside. I think it needs a mate, though."
"We could go out after dinner and rectify the situation."
"Works for me. I'm going to go make dinner. You want anything?"
"No, I'm perfectly happy being Matty's bed."
Mara smiled and went to make dinner.
It was a joyous Christmas time in the Seaborn household, full of parties and get-togethers. New Year's Eve was spent quietly at the Bay house. The new year brought health and happiness for all.
Jenna started taking classes at Georgetown. Sam signed the same medical forms for admission that Abbey had for Zoey years before. For him, it was an eerie feeling, to say the least. Sam wasn't the only one flashing back to a former life. Mara had the distinct feeling that politics was once again going to be knocking on their door and prayed she was wrong. She wanted her husband to herself during his 40s; she was willing to share her husband with the United States in his fifties. She barely blinked four months later when Leo and Andi showed up at the mansion door.
"This isn't a social visit, is it?" Mara asked with an sense of doom.
"Is Sam in?" Leo asked after giving Mara and kiss and a hug.
"You're looking good, Andi. It's been too long," Mara said as she hugged her.
Mara closed the door and went to the stairs. She yelled for Sam that he had company and left to get everyone drinks. She poured herself a double.
"Leo, Andi, what a surprise. What are you doing here together?" Sam asked.
Leo replied simply, "Sam, it's time."