"So what are you doing today?" Sam asked.
"Um... I was gonna go around the city, with my agents of course." Gracie replied.
"Okay. Have a good time."
"Where's Mom?"
"She's sleeping in late. Leave her alone."
Gracie rolled her eyes and poked at her breakfast, hoping her father would leave soon. She jumped as her cell phone began to rang and she glanced at the Caller ID. Biting her lip, she turned her phone off and shoved it into her pocketbook. Sam stared at her for a second, then kissed the top of her head.
"Be back by four. We leave at five-thirty." he said. Gracie nodded and began shoveling food into her mouth again. Sam grinned slightly and exited the room, agents following him as he did. Gracie waited until the door shut behind the group and took her cell phone out, turning it back on. She quickly redialed the number and waited.
"Yeah?"
"I'm sorry. My dad was in the room."
"That's okay. What time are we meeting?"
"Um..." Gracie glanced at her watch, and cursed, seeing she hadn't switched it since they had been in Italy. She then glanced at the clock on the wall and finally said, "Noon."
"Where?"
"Trevvi Fountain."
"I'll be there."
"See ya." Gracie snapped her phone shut just as Ainsley walked out into the living room, yawning slightly. "Hi Mom."
"Hey sweetie. Did your father leave already?"
"Um... about five minutes ago. I thought you were sleeping in late."
"Well," Ainsley let out another yawn as she grabbed a glass of orange juice, "Your brother or sister seems to think early is eight-thirty."
Gracie laughed quietly and devoured the rest of her breakfast. Ainsley sat down at the table across from Gracie and rubbed her eyes.
"I thought he had to go in at ten." she said.
"Um... something about prime minister rescheduling and he had to leave now. Do you have anything to do today?"
"Just getting ready for the dinner and opera. Why? Wanna hang out?"
Gracie couldn't contain her snort and Ainsley raised an eyebrow.
"What? Am I not cool?" she asked. Gracie shook her head and walked away, still laughing. "Teenagers."
--------------TWW-------------
Gracie smiled when she finally found Chris in the throng of people. She quietly walked up to him and tapped him on the shoulder. He swerved around and looked down at Gracie, a grin forming on his handsome face.
"Hey."
"Hi." Gracie leaned up and Chris kissed her quickly. "I'm glad you came. Usually I'm so bored during these things."
"Well I'm glad I could be of service."
-----------------TWW-----------------
"Hey, get to bed."
Joanie Lyman's head snapped up as Josh poked his head in her room.
"Did you see these?" she asked.
"See what?" Josh chewed on half a sandwich and entered his daughter's room.
"These pictures." Joanie turned the screen towards her father, who was still chewing. "It's Gracie."
Josh gave a 'hmm' sound and tried hiding his smile. He really did. Only a matter of time till Sam found out and well, it was always fun watching Sam stress out about unimportant matters.
"She's running around Rome with some guy!" Joanie exclaimed. "You never let me do that!"
"Honey, I don't think Uncle Sam knows." Josh smirked. "Get to bed. Hey, can you print me out that article?"
"Yeah." the article was printed and Josh took it with him, chuckling while he headed down the hallway.
----------------TWW--------------
"I'm back!" Sam called.
"You need to get ready!" Ainsley called back.
"Where's Gracie?"
"She didn't come back yet."
Sam glanced at his watch, 4:45.
"She didn't come back yet?"
"She said she was going to go around the city."
"Yeah I know. She—wow." Sam stopped short as he walked back into the bedroom of the suite.
"I don't like it." Ainsley complained, tugging at the dark red gown she had on.
"Are you insane?"
"It's clingy."
"I love it!" Sam exclaimed, circling Ainsley a couple of times.
"Will you stop acting like you are a vulture?" she snapped. Sam immediately stopped moving and Ainsley frowned as she stared at him. "You need to take a shower and get dressed."
"I figured I'd go all rumpled like this." Sam smirked. "You look hot."
"I look fat now go."
Sam leaned in and kissed Ainsley as he heard the door open quietly. Gracie poked her head in and grinned triumphantly, seeing her parents wrapped up in each others arms. She quietly snuck out and headed towards her bedroom when Sam called out.
"Grace Nicole!"
She cringed and swerved around on one foot, toppling into the table.
"What time did I tell you to be back?" Sam asked, pushing Ainsley's hand away as she wiped lipstick of him.
"I lost track of time. I'm sorry. It won't happen again. Can you two stop for just one second? God, you're like... I dunno! Disgusting!" Gracie replied.
"Don't change the subject."
Gracie sighed and flopped down on the bed, knowing she was going to get a long lecture.
"When I tell you something, I mean it." Sam said, watching Gracie nod.
"I didn't change my watch to the time here. I didn't realize until I looked at a clock in some café." she said.
"Alright. Hurry up and get dressed."
Gracie nodded and headed out of the room. Ainsley smiled and turned back to the mirror.
"What?" Sam asked.
"As try as you might Sam, you cannot stay mad at her."
"Why should I get mad when she didn't know the time?"
Ainsley shook her head. She'd let him figure it out.
-----------------TWW---------------
Sam blinked a couple of times, slumping in his seat as he watched the opera. He jumped as Gracie fell into him and snored softly. Sam rolled his eyes and rolled up his program, then whacked Gracie in the head with it a couple of times. She shot up and ran a hand through her hair.
"Dad, this is boring." she whispered.
"Deal with it." Sam mumbled, glancing over at Ainsley. She seemed thoroughly enthralled in the show and Sam wondered how his wife could stand things like these.
"I have to use the bathroom."
"Stop talking."
Gracie let out a sigh and drummed her fingers against the arm rest. Sam clamped his hand over hers and she started with her other hand. Sam turned his head and stared at her.
"Don't make me hurt you."
Gracie gave him a sweet smile and stopped tapping. After what seemed an eternity, the lights came back on and Gracie quickly jumped out of her chair.
"Take it easy. It's only intermission." Sam said, stretching his arms.
"Oh come on!"
"You can go to the bathroom now."
"But I can't stop at McDonald's for a Big Mac. I'm starving. My butt is beginning to fall asleep—" Gracie was cut off by the Prime Minister's wife coming over.
"Mr. President, she is adorable!" she cooed in a thick Italian accent, stroking Gracie's hair roughly. She gave Sam a pleading look but all he did was smile.
"Yes she is. Will you excuse us?"
"Of course,"
Sam grabbed Gracie and followed Ainsley out into the lobby.
"I think it's wonderful!" she exclaimed as Sam wrapped an arm around her waist.
"Really?" Gracie asked dryly. "I think it's the most boring thing I've ever had the honor of witnessing in my short life."
"Go to the bathroom." Sam said.
"What if I sneak out a window?"
"Then I'll have the Secret Service shoot you down."
"You wouldn't."
"I expect you back in five minutes and I'm timing you."
Gracie scowled and went off in search of a bathroom.
"Why do you tease her?" Ainsley asked.
"Because it's fun." Sam replied.