"Hey."
"Hey." Josh looked up and gave Sam a small smile. "How was North Carolina?"
"Good."
"I see you're still alive."
"Yes. Everyone liked me except Ainsley's mother."
"Funny. Usually the father is hard to please." Josh said. Sam shrugged and sat down. "So?"
"I... Josh I may have done something stupid."
"She's not pregnant is she?"
"What? No! God, don't even say that!" Sam exclaimed. "Be quiet by the way! I don't need CJ hearing that and try and kill me."
"Yeah. Anyway... what might you have done that was stupid?"
"I... last month I... it was Christmas."
"Yes I do have calender." Josh said. "Get on with it."
"You have a meeting in five." Donna said, poking her head in the doorway. "Hey Sam."
"Hi Donna."
"What's going on?"
"Nothing. Now go away." Josh said.
"Can I know?"
"Nope. I'll call you if I need you."
"Oh yes, just bellow when need be." Donna said sarcastically, leaving.
"When are you gonna get with her?" Sam asked.
"What are you talking about?" Josh asked.
"You obviously like her. God, we're having bets on when you finally get together."
"Really? Well I don't like her."
"Mhmm. Anyway, last month at Christmastime I... I may have bought something."
"You may have? Or you did?"
"I did buy something. I bought an engagement ring."
"Who bought an engagement ring?" Donna asked.
"Donna!" Josh yelled. "Close the door and get the hell away!"
The door slammed shut and Josh turned to Sam.
"You bought an engagement ring? For who?"
"Ainsley you twit!"
"Oh God. You... you can't possibly be serious."
"Yes."
"You're gonna marry a Republican?"
"Shut up."
"You're actually going to marry her!" Josh screamed.
"I tried returning it yesterday okay!"
"Why?"
"Because I don't know if I want to marry her."
"It can't be that hard."
"They wouldn't take it back so I'm stuck with it and it looks like I bought it yesterday and I got photographed by some reporter!" Sam exclaimed.
"SAM!"
"Oh my God. Oh God. Oh shit. Hide me!"
The door swung open and a very furious CJ stood there.
"What the hell is this?" she threw a newspaper in his lap and Sam quickly read it.
"Okay, it's not what it looks like. I already had the ring."
"Oh so it's okay that this article is out." CJ said, taking it from him. "And I quote, 'Is a Rose Garden wedding in order? Deputy Communications Director Sam Seaborn was seen leaving a jewelry store."
"That's stupid." Josh piped up. "He could've been buying anything."
"Ah, but let me go on. 'Sources at the store say that Seaborn bought an engagement ring. Who's the lucky lady?"
"Oh God..." Sam sunk deeper in his chair, feeling CJ glaring at him.
"Seaborn and Associate White House Counsel Ainsley Hayes have been seen together a lot since Hayes began working at the White House in October. Rumor has it that they have been dating.' I swear to God Sam, I will kill you."
"Okay... CJ, just take a deep breath." he said.
"No. I already have press asking me questions Sam! Did you buy a ring?"
"Last month."
"Are you dating Ainsley?"
"Yes."
"WHY DON'T YOU TELL ME THESE THINGS!"
"Be-because it wasn't a big deal." Sam stammered.
"I...ugh!" CJ threw her hands up in frustration. "You better stay away from me for a while."
--------------------TWW---------------
"I saw the article." Sam said, not even looking up. Ainsley opened her mouth to speak but Sam went on. "Close the door."
"How did you know it was me?"
"You're the only one that hasn't stopped by today."
"Is it true?"
"About the ring?"
"I wasn't going to say that."
"Yes you were."
"Okay I was a little curious."
"Don't you want to be surprised?" Sam asked. "It wasn't a ring. It was a bracelet for Sarah. Her birthday is on Tuesday."
"Honestly?"
"Honestly. I wouldn't lie to you."
"You seem sincere enough." Ainsley said, giving Sam a look. "But then again, you work in politics. You lie a lot."
"You work in politics too." he pointed out.
"Not necessarily. I guess we've been ratted out huh?"
"Yes."
"Do you care?"
"Not really."
"You seem annoyed." Ainsley said. Sam looked up at her and she sat down. "What's wrong?"
"My mother called. She saw the article."
"Is that a bad thing?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because she now would like a grandchild."
"Would a baby be so bad?"
"Out of wedlock?"
"Well, you got a ring right." Ainsley winked. Sam tossed a paper clip at her and turned back to his laptop.
"She wants to meet you."
"I'd like that."
"We just got back from your parents. Leo isn't going to let us take another weekend off."
"It's just the weekend. Nothing important happens on the weekend."
"Watch the Stock Market crash this weekend just because you said that." Sam joked. "We're not going."
"Why not?"
"Because then she really will make me marry you."
"Would being married to me be so bad?" Ainsley asked. Sam thought about this for a minute. He sighed and shook his head, making Ainsley give a triumphant smile. "Sam..."
"Ainse..."
"Sam, I will have to meet them sometime. It's only fair. I subjected you to my parents for a weekend."
"Yes but that was fun." he mumbled.
"It wasn't fun for me. I was getting asked tons of questions."
"So you know how I'm going to feel."
"Sam, we can't deny we're dating anymore." Ainsley said. He knew she was right. She knew she was right. She knew he knew she was right, which made the situation even more unbearable. He hated being second best to her, even though that was what he was nowadays.