Ainsley's ears perked up, hearing squeals coming from the front yard. She smiled and moved the curtain slightly so she could see out the window. Her sister, Casey stood in the driveway, looking very tired as a very hyper three-year-old bounced around beside her. Ainsley pushed herself out of her chair and opened the front door. The toddler saw her in the doorway and screamed as she raced for Ainsley.
"Aunt Ainsey!"
"Well hello!" she exclaimed, swooping her niece into her arms. She planted a huge kiss on Becca's cheek and hugged her tightly. "I missed you so much!"
"Don't ever have kids." Casey said, walking up the porch. Ainsley laughed and kissed her sister's cheek. "How've you been?"
"Good. You?"
"I'm tired."
"Where's Brian?"
"He's flying in tonight. He had a meeting." Casey explained. "When did you get here?"
"Around eleven." Ainsley replied.
"Ah." Casey took Becca from Ainsley and carried her into the house. Ainsley followed her and shut the door. "So how's the White House?"
"It's fun."
"Mhmm."
Ainsley grabbed Casey's sleeve and pulled her towards her.
"I brought someone."
"Who?"
"This guy."
"No duh. Who is he? Are you dating? Is he cute?"
"Sam Seaborn, yes we are dating and he is... oh he is amazing."
"Wait... Seaborn... doesn't he work for Bartlet?"
Ainsley smiled, nodding.
"Didn't you whip his ass on TV?"
Ainsley nodded again, still smiling.
"And now you're dating him?"
"Yup!"
"I have to meet him!" Casey exclaimed. "Where is he?"
"Shush!" Ainsley giggled. Becca squirmed in Casey's arms, who happily put her down.
"Go find Grandma." she said. Becca tottered off down the hallway and Casey turned back to Ainsley.
"Is he even cuter in person?"
"I can't even describe him."
Casey let out a delighted moan and she and Ainsley giggled.
"Casey, I think this is it." she said.
"What? You want to marry him?"
"Yes!"
"Oh god. How long have you been dating?"
"Two months."
"Ainsley! Oh wow! Oh God this is exciting!" Casey exclaimed. "Take me to him!"
Ainsley laughed and grabbed Casey's hand. She led her down the hallway to the kitchen and they both raised their eyebrows. Becca had found her way to Sam's lap.
"That him?" Casey whispered. Ainsley smiled and nodded. "Well my daughter seems to like him so I guess he's okay. Damn, he's cute!"
"I know."
"I want him."
"You're married."
"I don't care."
"Casey!" Ainsley hissed. "Sam, this is my sister Casey and that little angel on your lap is Becca. Casey, Becca, this is Sam Seaborn."
"Sam?" Becca questioned.
"Yeah." he nodded. Becca gave him a big smile and Sam smiled back. Emily rolled her eyes as she turned back to the stove. Becca leaned down and opened the pink bag at her feet. She grabbed a Barney coloring book and a pack of crayons and set them on the table.
"Will you color?" she asked.
"Me?" Sam asked. Becca nodded and Sam looked at Ainsley, who gave him a look. "Uh... sure."
"You do this one." Becca pointed to half a drawing of Baby Bop. Sam stared at it as Becca shoved a green crayon in his hand.
"Uh..." Sam looked at the toddler for assistance but she had already started desecrating Barney. He sighed and looked at the directions. "Draw the missing half of Baby Bop. Okay."
Ainsley sat down next to him and watched in amusement as Sam struggled to draw the dinosaur.
"You okay?" she asked, resting her chin on his shoulder.
"How do they expect kids to do this when I can't?"
Ainsley hid her smile and looked at Sam's creation once he was finished.
"Becca, sweetie, can Aunt Ainsley take this home with her?" she asked, pointing to the now demented dinosaur. Becca nodded and Ainsley carefully ripped it out of the book.
"What are you doing with that?" Sam asked.
"Nothing." Ainsley folded it and put it in her pocket, making a mental note to give it to Josh. "You're good with kids."
"I try."
Casey watched her sister with a smile on her face. They looked good together. They looked good with a kid on their lap. Sam made Ainsley happy, which Casey liked. Usually the guys Ainsley dated were asses. She really hoped that this was permanent.
-----------------TWW--------------
Ainsley was about to enter the kitchen when she heard her mother and sister talking.
"I don't like him.
"Oh stop. Just because he isn't a Republican..."
"He slept with a hooker Casey! I don't want him hurting Ainsley!"
"Do you see the way they act with each other? I don't think... no I know he wouldn't hurt her."
"You don't even know that boy!"
"I know he loves her! That's all I need to know. He cares about her. That's all I want for Ainsley. Come on Mom, when was the last time you saw her happy with someone she was dating?"
"I can name a lot of times."
"I can't. You think she's happy because you like the guy she's dating. You don't like the guy she's dating and she's head over heels for him."
"Why can't she find a guy like Brian?"
"Because Brian is one of a kind, as is Sam."
"Well, nice to see where my happiness lies." Ainsley said, entering the kitchen finally.
"Hello sweetheart." Emily smiled.
"What is wrong with Sam besides the fact that he's a Democrat? I've gotten past it. Casey's gotten past it. Hell, Daddy has gotten past it!"
"Well I... never mind."
"No. What's wrong with him?"
Emily pursed her lips together and turned back to the stove. Ainsley shook her head and Casey gave her a look.
"Where's Becca?" she asked.
"She's taking a nap." Ainsley replied. "I don't get it Mom."
"Ainsley, just let it go." Emily said. "I think he's wonderful."
"Like hell you do."
"Don't you dare give me that tone!"
"What's for dinner?"
"Do you enter a room like that?" Emily scolded, turning to her son. Alex shrugged and kissed both his sisters on the cheek.
"Who's the Brad Pitt clone sitting with Dad?" he asked.
"He's not a Brad Pitt clone." Casey said. "He's cuter than Brad Pitt."
"Did you and Brian divorce?"
"No. He's Ainsley's boyfriend."
Alex raised his eyebrows and turned to his sister, who was turning red.
"A boyfriend?"
"He's a Democrat." Emily piped up. Alex chewed on a banana and stared at Ainsley.
"That's okay." he said. "Politics isn't everything Mom."
"See!" Ainsley threw her hands up and Emily gave her a look.
"He slept with a hooker." she said.
"I sleep with hookers all the time." Alex said, making his sisters laugh.
"Alex honestly!"
"So he's a Democrat and slept with a hooker. Does he treat her good?"
"Yes." Ainsley nodded.
"Is he a bastard?"
"Depends."
"Mom is just being picky." Casey said. "She still hopes you'll come back and marry that kid you dated in high school."
Ainsley gave a shiver and shook her head.
"He was a gentleman and knew how to treat a woman." Emily said.
"So does Sam." Ainsley said. "Will you just give him a chance? You'll love him. Everyone else does."
Emily just went back to cooking dinner, making the Hayes' siblings roll their eyes.
----------------TWW--------------
Ainsley stared at her alarm clock and watched the red, glowing numbers turn to 1:04 AM. She quietly got out of bed and headed out of her room and down the hallway. She stopped at a closed door and quietly snuck into the room, locking the door behind her. Ainsley made her way over to the bed and sat down at Sam's side. He was lying on his back, one arm rest on his rising chest. Ainsley smiled and lay down next to him. Sam's arm instinctively wrapped around her waist and her arm went around his chest as she buried her head in his shoulder.
"What time is it?"
"Did I wake you?"
"I was waiting for you to sneak in here." Sam mumbled.
"Five after one."
"Took you long enough."
Ainsley smiled and kissed Sam's shoulder.
"I want you." she murmured, kissing her way up to his ear.
"I don't want your father coming in here and shooting me when you yell my name during sex." Sam said, craning his head away from Ainsley.
"I locked the door." she moved so she was on top of him and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. "I'm sorry about my mom."
"It's okay. Everyone else seems to like me."
"Yeah. She just has this vision of the guy she wants me to date or marry or whatever."
"Straight-laced pretty boy Republican with lots of money right?" Sam guessed.
"Well you're all of that besides the Republican. She takes what she hears on the news and figures that's how you are in your personal life as well. Give her time. She'll warm up to you. It's hard not to."
"Is she going to freak when she finds out you're in here?"
"Possibly but we'll make it quick and she won't ever have to know I was in here."
"Ainse..."
She smiled and laid back down next to Sam. He rolled onto his side so he was facing her and they just stared at each other for a few minutes.
"Becca really likes you." she said.
"She's a sweet kid."
"She is. She gets that from me. Casey was a wild child when we were growing up."
Sam laughed quietly and Ainsley smiled.
"You know, I was thinking."
"About what?"
"Well... since you've been meeting my family this whole day... when we get another break..."
"You want to meet mine." Sam said.