Disclaimer:

1) I don't own anything related to the West Wing or Hamilton.

2) The Chapter title 'Oh the weather outside is frightful m' is from the holiday song 'Let it Snow'.

3) I do not own anything related to Fly Me to the Moon (Frank Sinatra), Dream a Little Dream of Me (Ella Fitzgerald, Doris Day among others), or Take Me Home, Country Roads (John Denver).

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Sam's POV

Ainsley looked like a snow fairy queen with her cream wool coat, her matching leather fur-trimmed gloves, her fur hat, and her leather boots when a gust of snowflakes trailed behind her. 'My God she's absolutely breathtaking.' "Ainsley!" Sam called to Ainsley from across the Lobby as the snow settled on the Christmas decorations. "Whatchya still doin' here? I thought you flew out this morning?"

"My flight got canceled. All of the planes are grounded for the storm." She said. "I'm renting a car and driving down tonight."

'But the roads. …. I don't want her driving by herself.' Sam worried. "No, I'll drive you." ' 'No, I'll drive you?' What am I thinking? She's a strong, independent woman who can kick my ass in debates, board games, football and the President's annual Thanksgiving piñata 'turkey shoot'. She doesn't need my protection.' The roads'll be bad and I have experience with driving in the snow from going up to our cabin on Lake Tahoe and being in Manchester for the campaign.' He reasoned. 'She went to school in Boston, you idiot!'

"But you're flying out of Reagan tomorrow." Ainsley said.

'Good point.' "Oh, I'll book a new flight out of Charlotte after the storm and your family pick you up at the airport." He looked into her eyes that glimmered like the Christmas ornaments. "My godfather's a pilot so he can fly me out when the storm clears."

She thought. "Okay. You win."

"I finally win against the great Ainsley Hayes?"

"Just this once, Sam." She fluttered her long eyelashes at him.

'Hey, I'm winning every day I'm around you.'

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Sam's POV

As Sam loaded the last suitcase in the trunk, he gestured to a large colorful tote with watercolor elephant print on it that he was holding, "Are you sure you don't want this one in the trunk?"

"Nope, that has my blanket and pillow." Ainsley said.

"Then what's in the one that's already up front?" Sam asked.

"That's my snack and soda bag." Ainsley said.

Sam rolled his eyes. "Of course you have a separate bag for your food and Fresca."

"I brought some Coca-Colas for you." Ainsley said.

"Well, why thank you." Sam said.

"It's the least I can do, since you won't let me pay for gas." Ainsley said.

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Sam's POV

Snowflakes dusted the ground outside and Ella Fitzgerald crooned through the wood-paneled jukebox in the background. " 'Birds singing in the sycamore trees, Dream a little dream of me' "

Meanwhile, Sam watched Ainsley devour her cheeseburger with dainty bites from the cushy, red metallic booth across from him. "How can you be this hungry? At this rate, you're gonna have a heart attack before you're 35." 'Wow her eyes shimmer like the booth.'

" 'While I'm alone and blue as can be, Dream a little dream of me' "

The sunset cast a warm, coral haze over Ainsley as she finished her burger. "Well, then you won't have to worry about me advocating for the Second Amendment, tax cuts, and my conservative agenda as President." She dabbed the outer corners of her lips with a napkin.

All color drained from his face to match the white squares on the diner's checkered floor as she took a bite of her French Chocolate Silk Pie. "That's not funny."

" 'Sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you' "

"Or you could pass legislation that restricts my constitutional right to make my own dietary decisions." She smiled at him. "Bless your little heart if you try, but it's an option." Her eyes twinkled into his as she sucked down her milkshake.

"So how many siblings d'ya have?" Sam asked.

" '...But in your dreams whatever they be, You gotta make me a promise, promise to me, You'll dream, dream a little of me' "

"... Three brothers, Trey, Wesley, and John David, and ... four sisters Eliza, Emmeline, Claire, and … Mary Margaret." Ainsley looked away.

'Three brothers who could probably kick my democrat ass just as well as she can.' "Are they all as accomplished as you? Like did they do theater, music,?"

"Yup. We can all sing and Trey, Avaline, and I did Marching and Concert band; Eliza and I rode horses competitively in high school and Eliza rode competitively in college; John David and Wesley played varsity football; Trey and I did Academic decathlon; ….. Mary Margaret, Emmeline, and I did 4-H; Wesley and John David are both still in the Navy, Eliza's a lawyer, an' Trey and I are in politics. And we all grew up volunteering and doing philanthropy and all of my sisters, Mama and I got our Gold awards for Girl Scouts and my brothers and Daddy are all Eagle Scouts."

A woman selected a new song from the jukebox's song library. She deposited a quarter in the jukebox.

'Correction- seven siblings who can all kick my ass as well as she can. ... don't mention the Dungeon and Dragon's camp.' "I'm an Eagle Scout. So are Bartlet and Leo."

" 'Fly me to the moon, Let me play among the stars' " Frank Sinatra began to play.

"That's impressive. Not many make it that far." She said. "But I'm not surprised. You all definitely have that Eagle Scout quality." She continued as he beamed at her, oblivious to the fact that the waitress had written her number on the check. "Hey Sam, we're losing daylight fast. We should head over to the motel."

" 'Let me see what spring is like, On a Jupiter and Mars, In other words, hold my hand, In other words, baby, kiss me' "

"Yeah, you're right." He signed the check before they got up to put on their wool coats before they turned to leave.

Ainsley began to sing along as the clicking of her boots on the diner's floor kept time." 'Fill my heart with song, Let me sing forever more, You are all I long for, All I worship and adore.' " Ainsley's pale skin and rosy cheeks blushed a deep pink as Sam held the door for her. "Thank you, Sam."

"Your welcome."

" 'In other words, please be true, In other words, in other words, I love you' " Ainsley sang.

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Sam's POV

Sam changed the radio station as the windshield wipers kept the snow off the windshield. "How can they not have a regular music station?"

"Regular music?"

"Yeah, not this 'She took my heart and stomped that sucker flat' ….. stuff." Sam replied in a mock backcountry accent. "I would turn on NPR but the station's not coming in clearly." 'I'm amazed they even have NPR down here.'

"Sometimes we mix it up and listen to Christian Rock or Country Rock." Ainsley teased as Sam rolled his eyes. "Seriously though, not all country music is like that. May I?" She gestured towards the stereo.

"Go right ahead. Show me how not all country music's the same." Sam challenged Ainsley as the windshield wipers struggled to keep up with the snow.

Ainsley searched through the radio stations until she found one playing 'Take me home, country roads' and sang along as the snowfall became heavier by the minute. " 'Almost heaven, West Virginia; Blue Ridge mountains, Shenandoah river; Life is old there, older than the trees; Younger than the mountains, blowing like a breeze; Country roads, take me home; To the place I belong; West Virginia Mountain mamma, take me home Country roads;' "

"Okay, maybe country music isn't all bad." 'Then again anything she sings is perfection…. objectively speaking. Yes, because she has an amazing voice, which she does.'

Ainsley continued. " 'All my memories, gather round her; Modest lady, stranger to blue water; Dark and dusty, painted on the sky; Misty taste of moonshine,-' "

The emergency weather alert interrupted the song. *bBBIRGGHHhhh … swieesheewreeshheweeeshh … bBBIRGGHHhhh ... shhheeeweeswieeshee … bBBIRGGHHhhh …. sweesheeshshhheeewee…. bUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGG wreeseeeweeeeshh BIE…. shhheeewee BIE swieeshee BIE…..* "This is a statement from the National Weather Service for the following counties in North Carolina channel:…. blizzard warning in effect from 6 p.m. Tuesday to 3 a.m. Wednesday…. the National Weather Service in Raleigh has issued a blizzard warning which is in effect from 6:00 p.m. Tuesday day to 3 a.m. Wednesday the blizzard watch is no longer in effect hazard types heavy snow and wind with blowing and drifting snow Tuesday evening through Wednesday night sleet may mix with the snow Tuesday night into Wednesday morning east of Interstate 77 before changing back to all snow by Thursday afternoon ... snow accumulation of 18 to 24 inches in the eastern suburbs of Raleigh and 24 to 30 inches in the western suburbs the city of Raleigh is expected to receive around 24 inches timing heavy snow will develop Tuesday evening and continue through Wednesday night conditions are expected to deteriorate day even with the heaviest snow strongest winds and potential life-threatening conditions expected Tuesday night through Wednesday in Hanks heavy snow and blowing snow will cause dangerous conditions and will be a threat to life and property Travel is expected to be severely limited if not impossible during the height of the storm Tuesday night and Wednesday visibility will be reduced to near zero at times and whiteout conditions winds northeast 25 to 35 miles per hour with gusts up to 50 miles per hour becoming ... Tuesday temperatures mid to upper 20s other blizzard warning means severe winter weather conditions are expected or occurring falling and blowing snow with strong winds and poor visibilities are likely this world into whiteout conditions making travel extremely dangerous do not travel if you must travel have a winter survival kit with you if you can get stranded stay with your vehicle prepared for the possibility of power outages during snowy and cold conditions."

"Thank goodness we have a government big enough to provide the people with hazardous weather warnings." Sam teased.

Ainsley chuckled. "That's not Big Government."

"How is it not Big Government? Isn't Big Government anytime the government does stuff like, you know, help people?" Sam mocked as the snowfall accelerated.

Ainsley rolled her eyes. "No. It's the government's job to protect our individual rights and ensure that we are empowered to take care of ourselves."

Just as Sam was about to answer, the traffic slowed to a halt as a fleet of blue lights and sirens passed them en route to an accident up ahead.

"Hey Ainse, couldya pull out the map and tell me how close we are to the nearest exit? The roads are getting worse and I think we should check into a motel a little sooner than we planned." Sam said.

"Since you're not that good with geography and we don't wanna end up in Kirkwood Oregon or California." Ainsley said.

Sam gave Ainsley a side-eye glare. "Since I'm driving and you're the navigator."

"Well, that too. But it was just too good of an opportunity for a Kirkwood joke to pass up." Ainsley pulled a map out of the glove compartment and unfolded the map.

"Just get us off the freeway, okay?" Sam asked.

"Okay." She scanned the map. "The next exit's coming up in about a mile so ya need to get in the right lane."

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Sam's POV

The snow that the wind blew to the walkway minced under Sam and Ainsley's feet and their suitcases' wheels as they searched for their rooms.

Sam threw away the bag of trash, which had the receipt with the waitress' number on it, from his car. "We're looking for 100-H and 100-I."

"100-A, 100-B… 100-C, 100-E-"

"See I don't get why they do that. Why didn't they just call that 100-D?"

"I have no idea. Maybe we should create a government agency to figure it out and fix it." Ainsley retorted as they passed 100-F and 100-G.

They came to a stop at 100-H and 100-I. The closeness between them hung in suspension as the world stood still. "So…. I guess these are our rooms."

"Yeah." Ainsley fiddled with the room keys. "And I have the room keys."

"Yeah." Sam's hands brushed against her red leather fur-trimmed gloves.

"And you're gonna need your room key." She bit her lip.

"Because…. we have separate rooms." He looked into her emerald eyes that reminded him of those pictures of Ireland in the travel company advertisements for trips to Ireland.

"Yeah." She said as they stood an inch apart. "See you in the morning."

"You too. Goodnight." They stood there in silence for a minute before Ainsley turned to unlock her door as Sam waited outside and listened to her sing the refrain of 'Dream a Little Dream of Me'. " 'Sweet dreams, till sunbeams find you; Gotta keep dreaming leave all worries behind you; But in your dreams whatever they be; You gotta make me a promise, promise to me; You'll dream, dream a little of me' "

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Does it surprise you that Sam would offer to drive her down? Do you think he would be willing to do this for say Josh, Toby, or C.J.? Or at least to the same extent for something like this?

Have you ever been caught in a storm or bad weather while traveling? I know for me that it always seems to happen on my trips. And if it's not bad weather, some other sort of disaster happens.

What are your favorite country songs and artists? Or do you agree with Sam on this one?

What about your favorite road trip music?

What do you like to order at diners?