December 10, 2020.

"Now remember Dad, I don't want anyone knowing I'm engaged. Also lay off the stories of my power puff days."

"How about I don't even acknowledge that I have a daughter." Sam asked exasperated.

"That's fine with me. What are you wearing?"

"I thought I'd go naked."

"You are going to be the death of me yet!"

"Right back at you kiddo. I'm going home now."

"I'll pray you don't do or say something stupid."

"You'd be better off praying that I don't fire your ass." Sam countered.

"Sam, you were suppose to be out of here five minutes ago. You sure you don't want me to stand around behind scenes?"

"Josh, I'm perfectly capable of charming Diane Sawyer in my own home. It's nice to know you all have such little faith in me!"

"It's not that, it's just that this is a huge interview."

"I know that, now good bye."

Sam made it home by 2:30. Diane Sawyer and her crew were due to arrive at 3:30 and the interview was scheduled to begin a little after four. Mara had insisted on decorating the house over the weekend and it looked perfect. He turned on the garland lights that followed the railing from upstairs to down and turned on the Christmas tree. He made himself a bagel with cream cheese and went upstairs to change. Mara had left out his blue jeans and a black cable knit sweater. He changed and checked the messages on the answering machine.

At 3:25 there was a knock on the door and Sam waved at the agent who ushered Diane and a crew of four into the house.

"Hello Diane, nice to see you again."

"Nice to see you too. Have you decided where you'd like to conduct the interview?"

"The living room is the biggest space."

"Go ahead and set up guys."

"Hi, I'm Sam and you are?" He asked of the crew.

"Paul, the sound engineer, Mike is on lighting and camera 2, Fred is on camera 1 and Dave is on everything else."

"Nice to meet you all. Sorry Diane but Mara isn't here yet."

"That's fine, we still have some time. How about we start the pre interview."

"Sure, can I get you anything?"

"No, I'm fine."

"Guys if you want anything just let me know."

"Thanks." Fred replied for the foursome.

Mara and Matty walked in the door at 4:05.

"Sorry sweetie, we were delayed."

"That's code for they thought they'd run in and out of the bookstore and they spent an hour instead." Sam told Diane.

"Dad, it was only 54 minutes."

"Well I stand corrected then."

"Sorry Diane, I'll be down in five minutes." Mara ran up the stairs, kicked off her boots and socks went to the bathroom and came back downstairs.

"I'm going next door Mommy."

"Kay, I'll close the back door after you."

Mara looked in the fridge and made herself a bagel with cream cheese and cucumber.

"Sorry Diane but I'm hungry."

"That's OK."

Mara sat down in Sam's lap and kissed him hello.

"So how was your day?" She asked between bites.

"Trying, Toby called me five times before I just stopped answering the phone, Jenna was really irritating me and Josh was no better."

"Sounds like my day, everyone wants me now so they can check out for Christmas and none of them are in good moods. They didn't appreciate my cracks about getting coal in their stockings either."

Mara finished her bagel and had a few sips of her Dr. Pepper. She got off Sam and they both sat down on the couch and the interview began..

"What was the most difficult aspect of the campaign?"

"Being away from Mara and Matty. I would count down the seconds until I saw them."

"What has been the most difficult for you both since Election day?"

"It has to be the sheer number of people I have to appoint and then pray they pass the Senate confirmation hearings. My Senior Staff was a breeze."

"Moving or turning around and having Secret Service agents jump to follow me. I completely understand why they are necessary, but they still cramp my style and annoy me to no ends."

"Then again many, many things annoy Mara so ..."

"Yes, like my husband's lame attempts at being funny." Mara countered.

Sam rolled his eyes and stuck his tongue out sideways at his wife which brought a large smile to Diane's face.

"People who know you, cite your playful nature as one of the reasons your marriage has been so successful. Why do you think your marriage has been a success?"

"Truthfully, we ignore each other a lot. You learn to pick your battles and ignore the rest. We are each other's sounding boards, we still love each other passionately and we laugh a lot."

"I think that we both love each other so completely and totally that even when we want to kill each other that love reminds you how lucky you are." Sam added.

"You want to kill each other?"

"Oh sure, no one can drive either of us crazier than the other. Sam's usual line started as I can think of five ways to kill you right now, but I wouldn't get away with any of them, so you get to live. Now he just says five ways Mara, five ways."

"Mara kicks me out of bed and if she is livid I get kicked out of the house. It blows over eventually."

The interview lasted an hour and a half and all parties thought it went extremely well. The interview was scheduled to air the following Thursday at nine. Mara and Sam went over to Ainsley's for dinner and brought Matty back with them.

"So how did it go?" Matty asked.

"Fine, the questions were pretty good, a mix of serious and lighter questions. We talked about you."

"Great, as if I'm not teased enough as it is"

"Is that why you want to be embassy schooled Sweetie?" Mara asked.

"No, it's just annoying, I ignore it. I really am bored out of my skull."

"Well we have been thinking about it and I've started to look into it just so you know."

"Cool."

"Matty, Saturday is our shopping trip. We'll go get Noah and Donna will give us breakfast. We can get lunch while we are shopping."

"Cool Dad. I'm going to play on my computer."

"I couldn't say it earlier but you look good enough to eat." Sam said.

"Leslie said I reminded her of cotton candy."

"You are definitely giving off that vibe in that pink angora sweater."

"Can you believe Donna is already getting questions about what I'll wear to the inauguration?"

"What did Donna say?"

"That I'd probably open my closet an hour before hand and pick something out."

"Well that is what you'll do."

"I know, all this interest crap is already annoying me."

"I think I know what we can get Matty for Christmas."

"What?"

"Ainsley tells me that they were watching a show on house pets the other day and Matty said he wished he had a pet. Ainsley told him about Killer and she said he wished Killer was still alive. I know how you felt about replacing him then and I agreed but it's been thirteen years."

"Do we really want a new pet with all the craziness going on? Maybe for his birthday, once things have settled down."

"So you'll think about it?"

"Sure, I think a cat is easier because you don't have to walk them. How much to you want to bet Matty will pick a black cat?"

"Oh I'm sure he will. How about we get him some books about cats and how to care for them. He won't get an actual cat but he'll know one is on the way."

"I'm willing to go along with that. I'll go get the books this week. I think you want a cat who will sit on your desk in the oval like Killer did."

"We all got a kick out of Killer's visits. CJ was always paranoid about him when he'd jump up to visit Gail. The closest he ever got was sticking his nose in the top of the fish bowl."

"She forgot that he was use to fish with Winston and Wanda. It would be nice to have a fur ball running around again. I just wish I didn't get so attached to them."

"I know, for you it felt like you lost a child and for me it was like loosing a friend. They become part of your family."

"Have I told you lately how happy I am that you are my family?"

"Only ever time you smile at me. You bring the drama but you also brought me a love I had never known."

"Keep talking like that Seaborn and I'll let you have your way with me."

"When is the Rugrat going to bed?"

Mara looked at her watch, "He should be in bed in an hour and asleep in about two."

"I have to wait two hours?"

"Sam, you make it sound like it's forever."

"I guess I'll have to be satisfied with making out."

Half an hour later Matty came bounding down the stairs and stopped short when he noticed his parents were making out.

"Geez Louise, couldn't you like hold off until I went to bed?"

"Go to bed Rugrat." Sam replied.

"Mommy!"

Mara stopped kissing Sam and turned to face her son. "Yes my Love?"

"Sam, is going to Beaches Turks and Caicos the week before the inauguration and wants me to go with her. Can I?"

"Sweetie, I'll have to talk to Ginger and see if you are even invited first."

"It has to be fine or Sam wouldn't have asked me."

"I'll talk to Ginger tomorrow."

"Kay, what am I allowed to eat?"

"The chocolate chip cookies."

"Matty bring me several, I thought all baked goods were off limits."

"No, they are the only cookies not on the banned list."

Matty came back with two handfuls of cookies and handed one set to his Dad.

"Mommy, I can't help you with party prep if we are shopping on Saturday."

"That's OK sweetie, Jenna is coming over. When you get home you can help."

"When are Grandma and Grandpa coming in?"

"Saturday night, they are having dinner with CJ and Danny then CJ will bring them over."

"What about Aunty Dani and them?"

Mara couldn't help laugh at the look on his face. She was actually glad she didn't have to put up with her annoying nieces this year.

"They are not coming down."

"Yahoo, well I'll miss Aunty Dani but..."

"I hear you Rugrat." Sam chuckled.

"Well I better get back to Sam, she's still on IM."

Monday at noon

"So what are we having for lunch?" Toby asked as he brushed past Josh to feast on party leftovers.

"I have absolutely no idea. Mara and Matty were fighting over the feta cheese things and Abbey felt sorry for me so she made me a care package."

"Those feta things were good, I hope there are some cheese balls and pinwheel wraps." Josh stated.

"Dad?"

"Yes Jenna?"

"I grabbed the wrong container this morning, I have nothing but desserts how about I share with you and ..."

"A buffet is fine with me. Get in here." Toby commanded.

Toby slapped Jenna's hand when she went for the only mini chicken salad in a crispy potato tart. Josh used the confusion to swipe a hand full of cheese balls while Sam picked up a grilled vegetable pinwheel wrap. When everything was gone and Jenna opened the dessert container Sam grabbed the only caramel brownie and two chocolate cherry chews. Josh and Toby were both collecting rum balls and Jenna scooped up the ainse cookies dusted in icing sugar.

"We should all be feeling sick soon." Jenna commented as she popped a mini ameretto cookie into her mouth.

"I wonder who won the feta things." Josh asked.

"I bet Abbey stepped in and split them evenly."

"I wouldn't count on it Dad, Abbey really liked those herself. I've got some at home."

"I'm coming over for dinner then." Josh teased.

Carol stuck her head in the office, "Feeding time at the zoo is over. Get back to work people!"

"Is that anyway to talk to your boss?" Josh asked.

"Joshua bite me! Your calls were piling up and Amanda was starving so your phone is just ringing and annoying the crap out of everyone."

"Josh go." Sam sighed.

"My day is over, I'm going shopping, see ya later tonight Dad."

"Later gator."

"I've got work to do." Toby mumbled and left leaving Sam in blissful silence.

A few hours later Mara walked into Sam's office and stood in front of his desk waiting for him to look up at her.

"Hey Baby, what are you doing here? Wow!"

"Wow what?"

She was wearing a brown skirt, teal cashmere sweater and teal silk heels that he knew had belonged to her grandmother.

"You look like a movie star."

"Ah, thanks. I thought you should see the books I got for Matty. I've already signed them. If you like this outfit you'll love what Cheryl is sending me. She found this gorgeous dress in a vintage shop in London. It's very Doris Day."

"So I shouldn't be surprised that we will be watching a Doris Day movie tonight."

"Any requests?"

"Just your crazy popcorn mix, is there any taco dip left?"

"That depends on what Jed and Abbey decide to snack on today."

"I think movie night should be brought back in the White House. We can alternate picking titles every week."

"Sounds good to me, since you'll be the chief cook and bottle washer I'll let you go first."

"Oh the pressure!" Sam joked.

"You're a geek. So are you going to look at the books or what?"

"Oh yeah, once again you distracted me."

"You are weak Mr. Seaborn."

"But you love me anyway." Sam said with a smile.

"Yes, yes I do. I'm going to go irritate Josh while you look a the books."

"The two of you will never grow up." Sam sighed.

"Nope, growing up isn't very fun."

Sam looked back at the file he'd been reading over, the short list for Attorney General. Growing up is no fun, he thought and opened the first book The Wonderful World of Cats.