Okay, so heare we are dealing with the election. It's early in the summer and Mac is about 5 months now. All of you Mac/Will haters... I'm sorry in advance it goes down hill from here. All of you Mac/Will lovers, here we go to the heart of the romance. It all starts with a phone call and her attitude.

Enjoy,

S.K.

Ready, Set, Go

"After your face time here in Jacksonville, we will be going down to Miami, where there is a group called the independent party." Dickie said watching his boss. She looked tired, and she was gaining weight. It was time for a makeover... or at least a haircut, her hair seemed to fluctuate in length from one day to another. She would cut it about every other week just to keep it the way she is used to; this was a long hair week. "They are a group of women whom have been raising funds to help with your campaign, and they want to give them to you personally."

Mac nodded and turned to Kelly, "Max Taylor is on board today ma'am, and would like a candid interview with you about your presidency and some other things."

"No."

"Ma'am they are prepared to pay for the interview, which could help you reach your goal." Dickie insisted. Mac shook her head, "Okay, so forget funds, how about face time. You have to agree that this would at least help you stay on people's minds."

"It could also show how well you've been handling your situation." Kelly said softly.

"We'll see."

"Ma'am May I be forward with you please?" Dickie started.

"Why would you stop now Dickie?" Mac asked sarcasm dripping from her voice.

"Your hair, It's distracting." Mac shot daggers at him with her eyes, "It's red, and starting to gray."

"Dickie..." Kelly stated in shock.

"Seriously, you have never let yourself go like that before." He stated, "and your weight..."

"Dickie!" Kelly continued. The rest of the staff in the Air Force one conference room sat staring agape at the gall of the man.

"Dickie..." Mac stated flatly, "I'm a woman, the presidency does not make me gender neutral."

"I'm sorry ma'am, but looks really do count." He swiveled his chair so he was facing her directly, "The polls..."

"I don't care about the polls," Mac interrupted, "I exercise, and I eat right. I am the healthiest I have been in a long time, and yes Dickie I am gaining weight. Not because I have decided that I'm to busy and let myself go, but because I'm pregnant."

"You're what?" Jim asked in shock. "But you're single."

Mac turned to face Jim, "Why do you think I've kept my mouth shut all this time?"

"How far along are you?" Kelly asked softly

"Twenty weeks," Mac said placing her hand on her slowly expanding middle giving everyone a glimpse of a protrusion that they hadn't noticed before.

"Who is your stylist?" Dickie asked shocked that he hadn't realized this before. Mac looked at him "I mean why is your hair red?"

"Women shouldn't color too often during pregnancy." Kelly stated. "It's the fumes or something."

"Oh." Dickie nodded, his head was reeling at the hit the poll numbers were going to take off of this news. He expected about a ten-point drop. At this point all he could think to say ways, "well…at least it's not orange."

Mac smirked sympathetically, "Can we continue please?"

The meeting went back to its original pace. The group convinced her to give the one on one with Max Taylor by the time it was all said and done. They also convinced her to let the nation know about her pregnancy in that forum.

"In conclusion, I would like to thank all of you for your support in this election for both me and Speaker Templeton. I..." Mac felt dizzy as she stood in the hot Florida sun. She reached for some water but before she could get to it she blacked out and fainted.

There was a flurry of activity on the stage as the secret service agents standing closest to the president had caught her and lifted her into his arms to take her to the waiting limo. The physician that traveled with the president rushed to meet them there armed with water and some smelling salts. He feared that the weather would get to her. All of this traveling was not good for her but he understood that it was part of the job.

The press was all over the incident and it soon it was all over the news. Images of Mac's collapse flooded the airwaves. Mac awakened in the limo, the doctor's face inches to her own, "What happened?"

"You passed out mid sentence." Jim answered concern in his eyes.

She sat up and reached for the water the doctor was handing to her. "Crap," Mac took a deep swig. "It was just so hot out there, I knew that would happen."

"Are you sure you're up for Miami?" Jim asked as Mac took her jacket off.

"I need to tell everyone about the baby before I get there... I can't hide myself anymore."

"Good afternoon," Doctor Weiss nervously standing in the pressroom of the plane began to address them. "I have examined President Allen and have found no issues of great concern."

Mac sat there to the side incredibly nervous, she had called the kids just before to let them know that she was going to announce the pregnancy. They had taken it well, considering. They only had one more week of school left and she had promised that she wouldn't totally ruin their graduation.

"President Allen has the health of a woman half her age, and was merely suffering from a mild case of heat exhaustion, exacerbated by pregnancy."

The bevy of reporters was a flutter as they formulated questions to ask once the doctor was done. "She is twenty weeks along and according to amniocentesis she is carrying a healthy baby girl."

Mac looked at the doctor with wide eyes. She had not known the sex of the baby. Vince came up behind her at that moment and told her she had a call. She took the phone from him and stood just outside the door. "Hello?"

"A girl?" It was William.

"Yeah." Mac said softly, "how did you know we don't have a live feed in the air..."

"I called to find out if you were all right, and Vince let me listen in on the press conference." William's voice sounded a bit sad.

"What's wrong?" Mac started, "Listen I want to talk to you but I have to get back in there. I'll call you back later."

"Okay." William had been calling every day since he found out about the baby. He was starting to insinuate himself in her thoughts and dreams all the time now.

She guessed Vince already knew she was pregnant. He always seemed to be very perceptive about how she was. Now that it was out in the open, she knew that Vince knew who the father was as well. Mac smiled at her special assistant and handed him the phone. "Thanks, the calls make my day."

"I know." Vince answered and headed back to her office. Mac turned back to the press conference where the doctor had started to field questions.

"That's all folks," Mac said and whisked the doctor away. "You did well... but you could have asked me if I wanted to know the sex of the baby."

"I'm sorry Madame president, I didn't mean to let it slip. They said full disclosure on the topic and I was sort of carried away."

"It's okay..." Mac said, "that's a small thing in the grand scheme of things."

Mac returned to her office on Air Force one completely worn. After the meeting with the Independent party, she interviewed with Max Taylor. It was very candid and she really didn't feel sorry for doing it. She was tired of cover-ups and was glad to let it out. Dickey said it was good that way the focus could shift elsewhere. The only thing she did not disclose was the paternity of the child. Max had not asked that question.

Mac picked up the phone and dialed William's number. "Mac?"

"Yeah, I told you I'd call." Mac leaned back in her chair. "You sounded a bit distracted earlier. What's up?"

"My father has had a stroke," William said.

"How extensive is it?" Mac was concerned for purely selfish reasons. She didn't want William to be king yet. Not yet she wanted to see him again.

"It seems rather mild, just a bit of weakness on his left side."

"Thank god." Mac whispered. "Do you need me there?"

"I would love it," William hesitated, "Though I don't know how. You've been busy with the race, and you need your rest."

"No, I'll come as soon as I can." She stated, "Our countries relations depend on it."

"Oh I love it when you get presidential on me." He joked.

Mac chuckled, "I'll talk to you tomorrow."