The Best of Wives & The Best of Women Part 2

by DeborahSampson1776

Sam's life changed forever when Ainsley Hayes, the future first female POTUS, kicked his a** on National TV. Teaser: "Well if that isn't the biggest pile of bushwa I've ever smelled." Six pairs of shocked eyes turned to Mrs. Landingham.

21. Please Say Yes

Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to Hamilton or West Wing.

Note: This chapter takes place in between Season 3 and Season 4 in early June.

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Sam's POV

Sam jotted down notes on a yellow legal pad for his speech to Ainsley's dad. As he wrote, he heard the sweetest sound in the world coming from the Bullpen: Ainsley's voice.

"Just to confirm, y'all will be there at 3, correct?" Ainsley said.

"Yes, 3 pm. I'll call you if there's any issues." Toby said as Sam tore off paper and stuffed it in his wallet.

Ainsley "Sounds good. … CJ, I have a guy I wanna set you up with."

"Is he a Republican?" CJ asked.

Sam grabbed his luggage and his briefcase before he stepped out. "I know that voice." His hands hung in his blue jean pockets as he smiled at her.

Ainsley spun around on her crisp navy blue Keds. "You do?"

He stepped towards Ainsley. "Yes, I do. In fact, I'll have you know that it happens to be the most beautiful voice in the world." 'And there's no voice I love more.' He put his hands on her hips, his hands resting on the denim of her cropped and cuffed jeans.

Ainsley draped her arms so they hung behind Sam's neck, her wrists crisscossed. "In the world, you say? Who's the runner up?"

Sam smiled. "…Some French guy, but your voice wins by such a long shot that it doesn't matter."

Josh walked to the printer. "Excuse me while I vomit."

Donna filed paperwork at her desk. "Oh, come on, Josh. It's adorable."

Josh retrieved his documents from the printer tray. "Yeah, but that doesn't mean they have to broadcast it."

Ainsley addressed CJ. "No, he's not a Republican. But I do know a couple Republican guys you'd like if you're interested. This guy's a lawyer for the NRDC and he's funny. He went to law school with Sam and he's 6'4. … Can I have him give you a call?"

CJ turned to Josh as she read memos. "You're the only one who has a problem with it." Josh walked away as she turned to Ainsley, her eyebrows raised. "He's 6'4 and he's an NRDC lawyer and he's funny and he's cute?"

"Yeah." Ainsley said.

CJ hesitated. "… I'll have to pass."

"Okay, I just thought I'd put it out there." Ainsley said.

"Be sure to get that picture of Sam on a horse." Ginger said.

'Very funny.' Sam thought.

Ginger handed Toby a folder with documents inside. "Here are the education studies that you wanted."

"Thanks." Toby chewed his gum.

"Y'know… I'm not even gonna dignify that with a response." Sam played with Ainsley's hair.

Toby read his reports. "You're gonna ride a horse? I didn't think you were particularly athletic."

Sam looked at Toby. "I was athletic, as a matter of fact." 'And now I workout at least five times a week.'

"He actually did pretty great around the horses last time. This time we just have to get him on a horse." Ainsley said.

"Ainsley?" CJ said.

"Yea?" Ainsley said before she turned to Ginger. "And don't worry, Ginger. I'll get plenty of pictures. can get a nice life sized copy for the Bullpen, one for my office, the Oval- "

"And one for my office too." CJ added. "Anyway, that guy… Sam's friend… He's really 6'4?"

"Yea.." Ainsley said.

"What, were you captain of the Pretty Boy Badminton team?" Toby flipped through the documents.

Sam stepped away "Actually, I was captain of the Cross Country team and the Tennis team."

Toby shrugged. "Same thing." He stepped into his office.

"Mmmmmm." CJ said.

"Oh, come on, CJ. Go for it!" Carol walked to her desk.

"You want 'im to call you?" Ainsley adjust her short navy blue and pink floral silk scarf.

CJ chewed the inside of her lip. "Mmmm……. eh I wish I could, but no."

"Okay." Ainsley said. "So we'll also need a life-sized copy for CJ's office and wallet sizes for everyone."

"I'm not a Rembrandt." Sam said.

"He's smart and funny and cute?" CJ asked.

"Yes." Ainsley said.

"Hmmm." CJ said.

"You want me to give 'im your number?" Ainsley asked.

"… Not with the DNC convention coming up. Maybe after the election, but not right now." CJ said.

"Okay." Ainsley put her hands on his lean, muscular shoulders as she batted her eyelashes. "You know… I'd love to have one for my office." She drawled.

'Why?' "What, a life-sized picture of me on a horse?" Sam asked, his arms around Ainsley.

Ainsley's large almond-shaped, upturned eyes twinkled at Sam. "Yes."

"You can get one for your apartment." Sam said.

Ainsley gave Sam the puppy dog eye look. "But what if I wanna stare at your baby blue eyes?"

'You could get me to do practically anything with that look.' Sam blushed. "You can stare at my eyes any time you want."

"Yes, but not at work." Ainsley said.

"How would you get any work done?" Sam asked. 'God, I love you.'

"I'm a multitasker." Ainsley said.

Sam checked his watch. "It's 12:15. We gotta go, Ainse."

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Sam's POV

"Order 603!" The airport burger stand cashier called out.

Sam checked the receipt. "That's ours." He walked towards the pick-up counter.

Ainsley looked over her shoulder as she stood at the soda fountain. "What soda do you want?"

"We got milkshakes." Sam set the milkshakes into a drink carrier and the bags with their food on the open spot.

"I know we got milkshakes, but it comes with a soda." Ice clunked into Ainsley's cup.

"Yeah, we got milkshakes, so we don't need sodas." Sam walked back towards Ainsley.

"Says who?" Ainsley asked.

"Says me. We already have milkshakes. We don't need sodas." Sam said.

"But what if we get thirsty?" Ainsley filled her cup with Coca-Cola.

"If we're thirsty, then we'll get water." Sam said

"Again, says who?" Ainsley batted her eyelashes.

Sam grabbed three straws. "Says me and anyone else who grew up in California."

"You speak for the entire state, even Kirkwood?" Ainsley fixed the lid on her cup.

He set down the bag with their food. "You're never gonna live that down, are ya?"

"Not a chance, Cowboy." She picked up her soda and takeout pizza boxes. "Just a heads up- my parents will probably drop a lot of heavy hints about our future."

Sam furrowed his brows as they headed to their gate. 'What?' "Our future?"

"Yeah, like your intentions." Ainsley said.

"My intentions for what… marriage?" 'Is that a thing?' Sam asked.

"Yeah. My daddy'll either pull you aside or give you a chance to come to him." She said.

'For what? So we can discuss how many goats you're worth?' "What makes you think I don't wanna marry you?" Sam asked.

"I know that you wanna marry me. I'm just tellin' you that they'll wanna know when they can expect us to start a family." Ainsley said.

'You can't be serious.' "Well, that's none of their business." Sam put his arm around her once they sat down.

Ainsley laughed. "That's not how it works in the South. One of John Dawson's aunts even asked Eliza when she's getting pregnant at the wedding reception."

Sam looked at her in shock. "Really?"

"Yes. We take the next generation very seriously. They wanted to know when they would see the next generation of Armstrongs." Ainsley opened her pizza box.

Sam raised his eyebrows and took out his pizza box. "Too seriously, if you ask me."

Ainsley rolled her eyes and laughed. "Oh, Sam… We just like our traditions and our strong families… I'd have that speech ready to go."

'She knows? How on earth could she know?!' "What speech?" Sam asked.

Ainsley gave Sam a look as she smiled. "The one that you and your speech writing staff have been preparin' for when you ask my daddy for his blessin'. Operation Marriage Blessin'."

'Oh, ha ha.' "How'd you know about that?" Sam asked.

Ainsley smiled as she held onto his arm. "I know cause I know you."

'Fair point.' "Yes, yes you do." Sam said.

"Welcome to the South. Are you sure you wanna marry into this madness?" Ainsley said.

'More than anything… Anything, and I mean … anything,… for you.' "Yes, you're more than worth it." Sam kissed her.

"I'm more than worth it? I like the sound of that." Ainsley kissed his cheek. She scooped whipped cream and put it on Sam's nose. He laughed and put a bigger scoop of whipped cream on her nose. "Clean up your mess, Seaborn." She said with a tone of mock scolding.

"Excuse me, my mess? …MY… mess?!" Sam asked.

"Yes, YOUR mess." Ainsley giggled.

Sam kissed the whipped cream off her face. "It's too bad we don't have a couple cans of this stuff and a room to ourselves... I'll tell you what. If you behave yourself, I'll show you …exactly… what I'd do with that whipped cream when we get back." 'Devious… naughty, naughty things...' He whispered into her ear.

Ainsley batted her eyelashes. "And if I don't behave myself?" She drawled.

"Bad girls get spanked, you know." Sam kissed her cheek.

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Ainsley's POV

Cicadas buzzed as Sam and Ainsley ate dinner on the stone terraced patio with her parents, her sister Eliza, her brother in law John Dawson, and her nieces Ava, Kelly, and Reagan.

"So how's the campaign been goin'? I imagine its even more hectic than when we last saw y'all on Memorial Day, with the end in sight and everythin'." Robert cut into his fried chicken.

"Yeah, it certainly is. And right now, our latest polling data has us neck in neck with Ritchie in most of the polls, but CNN, USA Today, and Gallup have Ritchie at a slight lead." Sam ate a bite of macaroni and cheese.

"Mr. Sam, what are the polls?" Ava asked.

"They ask people who they want to vote for so we know who's winning and where in the country people like or don't like the President." Sam took a bite of fried mushrooms.

"Do y'all normally spend this much time on a State Runoff?" Eliza sipped her sweet tea.

Ainsley swallowed her spoonbread. "There's enough competitive House seats and the President's pollin' numbers are close enough for us to make some stops."

"Eliza, dear, could you pass the fried green tomatoes, please?" Georgiana asked.

"Yes, Mama." Eliza passed the serving dish.

"The DNC really wants us to take back the House for the first time in 6 years." Sam added.

"Thank you, Dear." Georgiana said.

"Your welcome, Mama." Eliza said.

"Someone has to keep y'all honest." John Dawson said.

Sam looked adoringly at Ainsley and took her hand. "That's what we have Ainsley for."

Ainsley blushed. 'You're too sweet for your own good.'

Robert turned to Ainsley. "You know, Ainsley, your mama and I have been happily married for what... Forty years, Honey?" He looked adoringly at Georgiana.

Georgiana nodded and smiled at Robert. "Forty years this June."

Robert looked at Sam, "It's been one of the greatest blessings in my life, havin' this lovin', Godly woman by my side." Robert beamed at Georgiana.

Ainsley studied Robert. 'Daddy…'

Robert turned back to Sam. "Sam, how about you? Ainsley is a lovin', Godly woman, wouldn't you agree?"

'You did NOT just ask him that.' Ainsley's eyes grew big. "Daddy! You are NOT-"

Robert cut her off. "I'm just asking the boy a question."

Ainsley looked at Eliza. "Can you back me up here?"

Eliza smirked at Ainsley and then smiled at John Dawson. "They put John Dawson through the same thing. Now it's Sam's turn."

Dad turned to Sam. "So, Sam, would you say that Ainsley's a lovin', godly woman?"

Ainsley squared her jaw. "DADDY! We are NOT discussin' this."

Georgiana turned to Reagan. "Reagan, Ava, how's your summer reading program goin'?"

"Great! I'm on my fourth book!" Reagan said.

"And I'm on my third book!" Ava added.

"That's a lot of books! When did you guys get out of school?" Sam ate fried mushrooms.

"Last week. And yes, there's been a lotta readin' at our house lately." Eliza ate mashed potatoes. "Kelly's been readin' up a storm too so she can be just like her sissies."

"The kid with the most books at the end of each week gets ice cream coupons for ice cream at the Hop and whoever has the most at the end of the summer gets a Barnes and Noble gift card!" Reagan said.

"That sounds great. What's been your favorite book so far?" Sam asked.

"Harry Potter!" Ava and Reagan said together. They both launched into monologue about Harry Potter.

"Girls, one at a time please. Remember that Mr. Sam has to follow what you're sayin'." John Dawson laughed.

"Yes, Daddy." Both girls said.

"They're both very into this 'Harry Potter' series." John Dawson took a bite of macaroni and cheese.

"I think stories are a wonderful thing to get excited about." Sam smiled as his bright blue eyes twinkled with charm. "So tell me. What's Harry Potter about?"

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Ainsley's POV

Ainsley transferred the macaroni and cheese into a Country Crock tub. "Mama, can you ask Daddy to cool it with the marriage talk?" She put the serving dish in the sink to soak once she put the tub in the fridge.

Georgiana put the Blue Bonnet butter container with the fried green tomatoes in the fridge. "I'll talk to him. But … you know … y'all have been together a little over a year and you're 32. Isn't it time to settle down? You should move along if he's not The One." She handed Eliza the serving dish to soak in the sink.

Ainsley took a deep breath as she looked at Georgiana. 'He is The One. He's definitely The One.' "Mama, he is The One, but that's not the issue." She set the plates next to the sink so Eliza could rinse them.

"What's the issue?" Georgiana helped Eliza load the dishwasher.

'Lord help me, or I might lose my religion.' Ainsley took a deep breath. "You saw how busy we were when y'all came up for Memorial Day and you heard what we said at dinner. We have very little free time with the campaign. Last week, he worked for 3 days straight and I'm working lots of extra hours too because I'm on the campaign and I'm Deputy Counsel. We barely have any down time as it is, let alone time for him to plan a proposal or for us to plan a weddin'."

Georgiana creased her forehead. "Plan a proposal? … Plan a proposal?? … What's there to plan? All he has to do is buy a ring and ask you!"

'As if Sam Seaborn would ever just buy a ring and ask me to marry him.' Ainsley went starry eyed. "That's not who he is. He'll wanna do grand gestures with a prepared speech."

"But do these grand gestures and fancy speeches really matter that much to you?" Georgiana asked. "Eliza, would you be a dear and get the whipped cream and pie out of the fridge, please? These dishes'll need to soak."

"Yes, Mama." Eliza said.

"I'd be happy with whatever proposal I got, but I know that he'd wanna give it his all. He'd feel like he let me down otherwise. What you're suggestin' would mean askin' him to be someone different from the incredible man I fell in love with. And that is somethin' I'd never do." Ainsley's heart went a flutter as she set out the dessert plates.

Georgiana softened her tone as she took the French Silk Pie out of the fridge. "Sweetheart, I just don't want you to miss any opportunities."

"Like what?" Ainsley began to serve up the pie.

"Like children, Ainsley. Your clock is tickin'." Georgiana said.

Ainsley caught her breath. 'Oh. Yeah. She's got a point.' "...Sam's askin' Daddy for his blessin' on this trip as soon as he gets a chance." When she brought two dessert plates, she smiled at the sight of Ava and Reagan showing Sam their Harry Potter books. 'He's so good with them.'

"This is the fourth book in the series? And you read them all by yourself, Reagan?" Sam asked as Rob threw balls for the Cocker Spaniels, Violet and Cash, and the Golden Retriever, Beau.

"Yes Mr. Sam, I did." Reagan's long loose blonde curls trailed down her back.

"Can I take a look?" Sam asked.

"Yes sir. Here you go." Reagan said.

"You don't have to call me 'sir' or Mr. Sam all the time, you know." Sam said.

"Oh, yes they do!" Eliza followed Ainsley with two dessert plates in hand.

Sam's head snapped to attention. "Wait, really?"

Ainsley laughed as she handed Sam and Reagan slices of pie and Eliza handed slices of pie to Josh Dawson and Robert. "It's the South. We respect our elders." 'I know it's a lot, Honey.'

"Thank you, Honey. … Thank you, Eliza." John Dawson and Robert said in quick succession.

"You're welcome." Eliza said.

"Thank you, Ainse." Sam said.

"Thank you, Auntie Ainsley." Reagan said as Georgiana walked in with two slices of pie for Ava and Kelly.

"You're welcome." Ainsley looked at Sam as she put a hand on his shoulder. "You doin' okay there, Honey?"

Sam nodded. "Yeah, it's just … that that's how we talk to the President."

Ainsley chuckled. "I know, Honey." 'It's okay. I know it's a shock."

"I guess I was just thinking out loud, that's all." Sam said.

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Sam's POV

It was 6 am when Sam ran through for a run through the trails on Ainsley's parents' property with Violet, Cash, and Beau off leash as the miniature horse, Vixie, ran alongside them. Sam slowed to a walk as he approached the stables and Violet, Cash, Beau, and Vixie played in the grass.

Rob stood in the barn aisle as he transferred a wheelbarrow full of manure to the manure pile just outside of the stables. "Hey there, Sam! How was your run?"

Sweat soaked through Sam's Princeton t-shirt. "It was great, Rob. I was just heading back to the house for a shower and breakfast. What d'ya have going on here?"

Rob brought a wheelbarrow loaded with manure to the pile. "Just muckin' the stalls and preparin' Vixie's breakfast." He came back to the barn aisle.

'Now's as good of a time as any.' "D'ya want some help?" Sam asked.

Rob smiled. "Sure. Come on over and I'll put you to work." He waved him over.

Sam stepped into the barn aisle. "Yes sir. So where would you like me to start?"

"Grab yourself a shovel and help me muck these stalls out like this." He stepped into a stall and transferred the manure to the wheelbarrow. "You wanna get anything with piss or crap in it. … You're lucky that I already got Hank and Clover's stalls done. They don't poop in one spot, so it's a lot harder to muck their stalls."

Sam picked up a shovel. "I may be a Democrat, but I'm not afraid of hard work." He breathed in the sweet, earthy aroma of the horse manure. 'Ainsley was right… Horse manure doesn't smell that bad.'

Robert stopped to look at him. "I doubt you'd get to where you are now without hard work."

"This shouldn't be too hard. It's not that different from what I do in DC." Sam mucked the stall.

Robert laughed. "I reckon it isn't."

"You know, the President says that Ainsley's smart as a whip. He thinks she should run for President one day, but she's hesitant." Sam said.

Robert furrowed his brows. "She's hesitant? Why?"

"She said that she used to want it, but now she doesn't want that much power." Sam said.

Rob nodded. "Yeah, I can see that. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. … Would you vote for her if she ran?"

'Are you kidding? Of course I would.' "Yes. In fact, I might even be a Republican myself if the Party was more like her." Sam said.

"A lot more of us are like her than you think. Unfortunately, hacks like Ritchie just get a lot of attention because their daddies' bankroll their career." Robert said.

"We've got plenty of those in the Democratic Party." Sam said.

Rob continued. "And as for Haffley, he appeals to many of us because he pushes so hard for lower taxes. But from everythin' I've seen on TV and everythin' Ainsley's said about him, he seems like a snake who's just about accumulatin' power and doesn't really care about limited government."

"Both sides have no shortage of power hungry snakes, that's for sure." Sam said. 'And Ainsley'd turn them all on their heads if she ran. That's for sure.'

Robert shrugged. "That's politics for you."

"If she did run though, she wouldn't run as a typical Republican." Sam wheeled the wheelbarrow to the pile out back.

Rob laughed. "She's never done anythin' 'typical' in her life. She goes through life fixin' for a fight. Y'know she got accepted to Vanderbilt, Auburn, Ole Miss, Duke, and plenty of other excellent Southern schools where she would've found many other like-minded people, but she chose Smith."

"Yeah that's what I've said. … She said that if she were to run, she'd run against the lobbies and the Establishment." Sam said.

Robert let out a laugh as he smiled. "That sounds like my girl."

Sam's eyes lit up. "Yeah, she's definitely something special. I'm a lucky man."

Robert's sharp cheekbones and jaw softened as he gave Sam a thoughtful look. "Yeah, I'd have to agree with you there. But I can tell you're good for her."

Sam took a deep breath. 'Here goes nothing.' "I wanna spend the rest of my life with Ainsley and I feel will work every day to be worthy of her. And you know if she runs for President, I'll do everything I can to help her win. And if she chooses to go in a different path, I'll support her no matter what." He rambled.t

Robert put a large hand on Sam's shoulder as his blue cat-like eyes softened. "You don't need to convince me, Son. You don't just have my blessin'. You have my support. … I know you don't need my blessin' to ask her, but I'm glad you did."

Sam shrugged. "I just figured that's what I should do, sir. My mother taught me that."

Robert gave him a thoughtful look. "Your mother taught you well."

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Sam's POV

Ainsley held Sam's hand as they walked towards the stables. "Are you nervous?"

Sam shrugged. "I dunno. Are you gonna get my good side?" He wore an old pair of Rob's paddock boots.

Ainsley scrunched her brows. "What? Your good side?"

"Yeah, when you take my picture." Sam said.

Ainsley let out a snort. "What makes you think I'm gonna do that?"

"You said you were!" Sam said.

Ainsley laughed out loud. "Sam, did you really think we would put your picture on display in the Oval?"

"…No" 'Okay, maybe a little bit.' "But… I wanna be clear. I would've gone along with it, or anything, to make you happy." Sam said.

Ainsley smiled as she turned pink. "That is very sweet." She pulled herself closer to Sam's side.

"Anything for you." He brought her hand to his lips to kiss her knuckles.

"You'll be fine. You did great last time. Just follow my lead and stay calm, cause they pick up on everything you feel." Ainsley said.

"I didn't ride a horse last time. I just brushed them and fed them carrots and apples. You should take plenty of pictures though. Otherwise no one'll believe that I got on a horse." Sam said.

"But no pictures in the Bullpen or the Oval." Ainsley added.

"I should hope not, even if CJ's disappointed." Sam said.

"Well I won't be disappointed." Ainsley smiled and kissed his cheek.

'Good.' "And that's all that matters to me." Sam said.

XXXXXXXXX

Sam's POV

"Lift with your legs, Son. Not your back." Robert stood atop the hay bales.

"Yes sir." Sam squatted to pick up a square hay bale.

Eliza walked down to the hay barn where Sam, John Dawson, and Robert unloaded the hay delivery. "I understand that y'all aren't used this type of pressure to get married and have babies back in California." She stood next to the tractor with the pallets of hay bales.

Sam carried the hay bale by twine wrapped around it. "Not this type of pressure, no. … I realize that there's a lot of things I don't understand about the South, but I'm trying."

Eliza waved it off. "You're doin' fine. Don't worry about that."

Sam smiled. "Well, thank you for the vote of confidence."

Eliza's cat-like eyes looked Sam over. "You're welcome. It's not a vote I give out freely, especially to a Democrat. But you make my baby sister happier than I've ever seen her and that's what really matters to me. You're good for her."

"Thank you." Sam said.

"You're welcome. You're a good guy, even if you are a Democrat." She laughed.

Sam raised his eyebrows. "Good enough for you guys?"

Eliza nodded. "Considerin' the way she lights up when you walk into a room, I'd say you're good enough for her."

Sam shrugged. "I try. I'll always try." 'I just want her to be happy.'

"I have the diamonds that Ainsley's set to inherit in here." Eliza handed Sam a drawstring pouch.

Sam pocketed the pouch. "I'm going to Tiffany's to look at rings soon, so this is perfect. I can use this to design her own ring."

Rob walked over to Sam and Eliza. "Sam, these are those foxtails I was tellin' you about. See the spiked, barbed texture? They're called 'awns'."

Sam examined the awns. "And these awns… they ulcerate the mouth?"

"Yeah." Rob said.

"Okay, spikes and barbs. Got it. I'll keep an eye out. So I just pick them out?" Sam asked.

"Yeah, we just don't want 'em to eat them." Rob said.

"What about the hay that's inside the hay bale, like the hay that I can't see?" 'Cause that could be bad.' Sam asked.

"There could be more in there, but we always check the flakes before feeding them." Rob said

Sam nodded. "Got it." He turned back to Eliza as Rob walked away.

"Do you have an idea of how you're gonna propose?" Eliza asked.

"Well… my first choice is to find a reason for her to come on one of our summit trips that we have coming up this Fall. I'd like to propose somewhere like the Eiffel Tower with fireworks and live music." Sam said.

Eliza's eyes widened with shock. "They'll let you do that, like arrange for her to be on that trip?" Eliza said.

"Well, I'll have to get it cleared first. She's also a Senior Counselor to the President, not just Deputy White House Counsel, so we could find a reason. And this President would be very enthusiastic about this type of thing. You'll see what I mean when you meet him tomorrow. But my fallback right now is proposing in DC around Christmas time, also with live music and fireworks." Sam smiled.

Eliza creased her forehead. "That's your fallback? Ainsley wasn't kiddin' when she said that you'd want this to be a grand romantic gesture."

Sam laughed. 'Of course I do.' "I just want it to be perfect."

"Why don't we exchange phone numbers and emails? That way we can help you plan it when you're ready." Eliza said.

"Yeah, that'd be great." Sam said.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

CJ's POV

CJ sat in one of the cream leather chairs aboard Air Force One. "So before we go in there, remember we are GUESTS in their home. Ainsley's sister and her brother-in-law are incredibly gracious to host us. … And that means that we need to return that graciousness. Sam said in no uncertain terms that there is to be no politics at the table. … Now the kids might say something, but that does NOT mean we get to." 'Yes, I'm talking to you.' She glared at Josh.

"Yeah, I'll keep my mouth shut." Toby said.

"Why do the kids get to say whatever they want?" Josh whined.

'Are you serious right now?' CJ glared at him.

"Because, Josh, the oldest kid that'll be there is 10 and the youngest is 2. The older ones know not to bring up any of it, but one of the 5 year olds might make a comment about taxes or guns or something."

"Are you a 5-year-old little boy, Josh?" Donna asked.

Bartlet's elbows rested on his knees as he looked at Josh. "If you're five, then we should know about that cause we'd be violating child labor laws."

Toby raised his eyebrows as he chewed his gum. "He might as well be five."

"Hey!" Josh shouted.

'You're the one who acts five.' CJ thought.

"It would explain a lot." Donna said.

Charlie's hands slung in his pockets. "I didn't know 5-year-olds came in this model."

CJ looked at Josh. "Just…keep your mouth shut. We don't wanna make Sam look bad. …And… it goes without saying, but no snide comments about guns, having lots of kids, or the South."

"How many kids are there?" Josh asked.

"Grandkids?" 'Why?' CJ asked.

"Yeah." Josh said.

"I think around… twenty, twenty-five? You'd have to ask Ainsley." CJ said.

Josh's round brown eyes popped. "TWENTY-FIVE?! TWENTY-FIVE!!!!!"

"She has a big family, Josh. She's one of eight." CJ said.

"I thought only some of her family were coming, so that's twenty-five kids between-" Josh said.

"Oh, yeah. Only two of her sisters and one of her brothers, their families, and her parents. Sam said only twelve of the grandkids will be there tonight. But there's I think around twenty to twenty-five total." CJ said.

Josh raised his eyebrows. "ONLY twelve?! Jeez, do these people know how to stop that? I suppose not, obviously."

CJ hit Josh's arm. "Didn't I just say no rude comments?" 'Do you need to go straight to the hotel instead?'

"I don't recall you pushing any of those kids out of your vagina." Donna said.

Charlie smirked. "Josh has a vagina?"

"And I don't recall you having to raise them either." Bartlet added.

CJ glared at Josh. "Her sister-in-law is pregnant with twins, so you better damn well not say anything."

"Twins? TWINS? Don't they have enough damn kids already?" Josh exclaimed.

Donna glared at Josh. "You're sitting between Sam and I during dinner."

CJ glared at Josh. "Ainsley and her family are gonna play some bluegrass music after dinner and maybe some folk music, so you better not say anything about that either."

"Bluegrass music? What's that?" Josh asked.

"Sam said it's like country music but it also has banjos and fiddles and something called a mandolin." CJ said as Josh wrinkled his nose, creased his forehead, and raised his eyebrows in disgust. "Keep it to yourself."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Ainsley's POV

Ainsley's nieces and nephews sat next to a hamster cage in the playroom as Bartlet, Charlie, Sam, and Toby sat in a semi circle around them. CJ, Donna, Ainsley, her parents, Eliza, John Dawson, Ainsley's sister Emmeline, her brother-in-law Beckett, her brother Wesley, and her pregnant sister-in-law Mary Alice watched as Bartlet gestured towards the orange and white hamster in her niece Coraline's hand. Meanwhile, Josh stood separate from the group. "So what do you have here, a baby dragon?"

The kids giggled. "No, Silly! This is my hamster, Clementine." Coraline insisted.

"How do you know that Clementine's a hamster?" Bartlet asked.

Coraline giggled. "Because Mr. President ... dragons breathe fire and have scales and wings. Everyone knows that."

"Are you sure that Clementine doesn't have scales and wings? I also see lots of scales all over her and fire coming out of her nose. Sam, what do you think? Does Clementine look like a dragon to you?" Bartlet asked.

"I think so. I mean, look at her tail." Sam said.

Sam and Ainsley made eye contact and smiled. 'He's so good with them. He's gonna be a great dad.'

Coraline sighed in frustration. "Mr. Sam, Mr. President, you are both ridiculous. Hamsters have tails, but that does NOT mean that she's a dragon."

'I wonder if our kids'll be like this. … That is… if we can have any.' Ainsley held her hot pink camera.

Bartlet shrugged. "Well, if you say so."

'I really hope we can. We can always adopt. I mean, I wanna adopt kids regardless, but … I don't know. I wanna have babies who look like us too. And the adoption process is difficult too.' Ainsley took pictures with her hot pink digital camera.

"I do say so… Mr. President, would you like to hold her? What about you, Mr. Sam? Mr. Charlie? Mr. Toby?" Coraline offered.

'And there's IVF, right?' Ainsley thought.

"I'll hold her." Sam said.

"Me too." Charlie said.

"Now Mr. Sam, you have to be very gentle with her, so I'll show you how." Coraline instructed as she handed her to Sam.

"Are you paying attention, Sam? … Be sure to speak slowly with Sam, and try to avoid big words." Toby said.

Sam glared at Toby. "Yes, Toby. I'm paying attention."

'It'll be okay. It'll be okay.' Ainsley thought.

"Now you just wanna gently hold her in your palm and have your other hand in front of her so she has somewhere to go." Coraline said.

"Okay." Sam held Clementine in his hand.

'Look how gentle and lovin' he is.' Ainsley smiled.

"And then you switch your hand." Coraline said. "You got that?"

"Yeah, I got that." Sam said.

"Do you? Cause I'm not sure if you do." Toby said.

Sam gave Toby a pointed look. "I do."

"Hey y'all! Smile for the camera! That means you too, Toby." Ainsley took the picture and then examined the display screen on her camera. "Okay, we got a good one. And now for the silly picture. Show me your silly faces!"

Coraline spoke once Ainsley took the picture. "She sometimes takes some time to calm down a bit."

Jackson, one of Ainsley's nephews, raised his eyebrows and creased his forehead. "We have a hedgehog at home. His name is Sonic and he REALLY takes time to calm down and open up. His spikes are always so prickly when you first come up to him, but once he settles down he's friendly."

"Hey, that sounds like Toby." Sam said.

"Shut up." Toby said.

Jackson gasped and then turned to Mary Alice as she sat in a chair next to Ainsley. "Mama, Mr. Toby said a bad word!"

Toby's face blanched. "I'm so sorry. You're right, Jackson. You're absolutely right."

"Apology accepted." Coraline said before she rattled off facts about hamsters.

XXXXXXXXX

Josh's POV

The patio table overflowed with countless homemade side dishes and entrees- homemade macaroni and cheese, brisket, pulled pork, potato salad, fried green tomatoes, tomato bacon pie, and much more with the Hayes Family and the Bartlet Campaign gathered around. Robert served himself a helping of corn pudding. "So what's it like flyin' on Air Force One?"

Josh looked around the table. 'God, there's so many kids… and so much food. Too many kids.'

"It's got an apartment and an operating room… But my favorite thing on Air Force One is when we have a late flight." Bartlet smiled as he served himself pulled pork.

'Oh, brother. Here we go again.' Josh served up tomato bacon pie.

"Oh boy. Here we go." Toby took a bite of macaroni and cheese.

Bartlet gestured to Toby. "I heard that. Remind me to have you beheaded when we get back. I just love the magic and wonder of long, late flights across the night. We cease to be earthbound and burdened with practicality. We get to ask the impertinent question. We get to talk about the idea nobody has thought about yet. We get to be poets."

"Is he always like that?" Ainsley's brother-in-law, Beckett, served himself fried green tomatoes.

"You have no idea." Toby sipped lemonade.

Bartlet turned to Toby. "You know, just for that Toby, you're gonna learn all about the history of flight, which is fitting since we're in North Carolina." He took a sip of homemade lemonade.

"Any chance of skipping through the highlights, sir?" Toby asked in a pained tone.

Bartlet smiled. "Not a chance."

"You have my sympathies. Daddy's the same way." Wesley took a bite of fried chicken.

'Hey, that's the President of the United States you're making fun of.' Josh chewed his pulled pork.

"Do you have a favorite poet, Mr. President?" Emmeline turned to the toddler next to her to cut cut up her fried green tomatoes.

"Do not go gentle into that good night, …" Bartlet recited 'Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night' by Dylan Thomas.

"Ah, you're a Dylan Thomas man. I'm a fan of him and Walt Whitman amongst others, but my favorite is a rather lesser known poet named Edward Rowland Sill." Rob said.

'Rednecks like poetry?' Josh thought.

"I'm not familiar with his work. Do you have a particular favorite?" Bartlet took a bite of pulled pork.

Georgiana groaned. "Oh, Lord. Don't get him started."

Rob's face lit up. "I do, as a matter of fact. It's a poem called 'Opportunity'."

"Not a fan of poetry, Mrs. Hayes?" Bartlet asked.

"I am, he just happens to recite this particular one all the time." Georgiana ate her pulled pork.

"And sometimes he makes us recite it." Wesley said. "You could say it's his motto in life."

"A motto that gets applied to everythin'." Ainsley sipped her sweet tea.

Rob turned to Ainsley. "Just for that, Ainsley, you explain it."

"Yes, Daddy." Ainsley turned back to Bartlet. "It's about a soldier who blames his failures on the sword he has before he snaps it in half and deserts the battle. The prince, who had lost his sword, found the broken sword in the mud and used it to win battle. Daddy likes to quote it as motivation."

'He's obviously intelligent … intelligent for a redneck I mean... but I still have to ask about Ritchie. … In fact, that's why I have to ask.' Josh thought.

"Now see, Ainsley? That wasn't so bad." Rob said.

"Your father's a smart man, Ainsley." Bartlet ate cornbread.

'Why are you calling a Republican redneck smart?' Josh thought.

"Glad you think so, Sir." Ainsley ate her macaroni and cheese.

"Why is that the Republicans-" Josh started.

"Josh." Sam warned as his eyes sharpened.

'I just have a question. Relax.' "Can't nominate-" Josh continued.

"Josh!" Sam clenched his teeth and kicked him while Donna stomped on his foot. Sam clenched his fists as Ainsley took his hand in hers. Ainsley groaned and rolled her eyes while CJ groaned as well and Charlie put his face in his hands.

'What's wrong? What'd I do?!' Josh thought.

Robert took a long sip of his sweet tea as he looked thoughtfully at Josh. "…Why can't we nominate a candidate with gravitas?" He creased his forehead.

Josh rubbed his shins. 'Ow.' He spoke in a small voice. "Yes." 'We weren't supposed to talk about this, right? … Well, it's for the best. I gotta save Sam.'

"Son, that's a very good question. I'll tell you why. The Parties go through phases where they're doing well and not so well. Right now, one of the most powerful members of the Republican establishment happens to be Ritchie's father. Ritchie's father was Vice President to one of the most beloved modern Republican Presidents, President Owen Lassiter. Whether you love him or hate him, President Lassiter does have gravitas. But anyway, Ritchie's father is very influential and he essentially bought him the nomination. But there's another part of it too. Ritchie speaks to Middle America, and they often gets left behind. Now I'm not sayin' that Ritchie's the answer to their problems, but he definitely makes them feel recognized. Do I think he actually cares about Middle America? Not in the slightest. But they think that he gets it and that's what matters, at least as far as politics goes." Robert said.

'Well, her dad obviously doesn't care. I dunno why everyone's so pissed.' Josh thought as Bartlet narrowed his eyes at Josh and Toby groaned and Sam's fists unclenched

Sam looked at Reagan from across the table. "Reagan, why don't you tell the President all about your summer reading program. He would love to hear all about that and Harry Potter."

XXXXXXXXXXX

Sam's POV

Sam and Ainsley walked hand in hand from the hotel gym up to their hotel room.

"Do you reckon that they're still yellin' at Josh?" Ainsley's face was damp from the quick shower she had just taken after her workout.

"Yeah, possibly." Sam swiped the hotel key card. They stepped inside and walked towards the bathroom to get ready for bed.

Ainsley stood in front of the double sink in their hotel bathroom. "I know this probably seems insane to you, but my parents are just worried that I won't be able to have kids." She took off her earrings.

'What?' Sam looked at her with his face scrunched in confusion as he spoke through a mouth full of toothpaste. "What d'ya mean?" He spit out his toothpaste and began to rinse with mouthwash.

Ainsley took off her makeup. "My family, the pressure to get married and have kids, and all that." Her silk nightgown floated across here skin.

He spit out the mouthwash. "...It's our choice whether or not to have kids and when, not anyone else's." He stepped out to grab his tshirt and boxers to change into.

"It is our choice and they know that. They're just worried that we're gonna wait too long and that we'll have regrets." Ainsley applied makeup remover as she chewed her lip.

Sam walked back into the bathroom. "Do you want kids?"

"You know I do." Ainsley washed her face.

"Then that's all that matters." Sam tucked a lock of hair behind her ear before he kissed her temple. "Tell your parents we'll have kids when we're ready." He took off his clothes.

"And that's what I said. They're just… they're afraid that'll be too late. … You have to understand, it comes from a place of love." She applied eye cream.

"I know. I just worry for you." He pulled on his sleep t-shirt.

"You worry for me?" Ainsley put her hair in a loose braid.

'Yeah, I do. Because I love you.' "I just want you to be happy. I know you are, but I … I can't help but wonder if this is what you pictured." Sam pulled up his boxers. 'You're a Southern Republican and I'm a California Democrat after all.'

"What are you talkin' about?" Ainsley put away her toiletries.

"Just… this life. … Politics." 'Your happiness is all that matters to me, for better or worse.' Sam said.

They walked towards the bed. "I took this job back when you were just an idiot Democrat on TV who didn't even know his own state's geography."

"Okay." 'As long as you're happy and as long as I make you happy.' Sam turned off the bathroom light.

Ainsley touched his arm. "Okay? So stop worryin'. This is what I want. You and me. … Worryin' about me seems to be a common theme."

"Well, that just means a lot of people care about you." 'I worry because I love you. I love you more than anything.' Sam said.

Ainsley and Sam crawled into the hotel bed with the low thread count sheets. "Where is this worry comin' from?" She snuggled into Sam's side.

Sam pursed his lips as he looked at Ainsley and took a deep breath. "…Is… is being with me what you pictured when you moved to DC?" 'Please say yes.' He held his breath.

Ainsley gazed back at Sam as she ran her fingers through his hair. "Is bein' with me what you pictured for yourself when you met me?"

'Fair point.' "No. But now, I can't picture anyone better." Sam said.

"So no, I didn't picture bein' with you when I moved to DC. Back then, you were just the really cute Democrat White House staffer who'd go on Capital Beat and be wrong about everythin'. … But now, you're Sam. My Sam. I want whatever life has you in it." Ainsley kissed his cheek.

"Good." He pulled her close and kissed her temple. "Because I wouldn't trade you for anyone or anything."

"Even with my gun collection?" Ainsley asked.

Sam laughed. "Yes, even with your gun collection…. I realize that there's a lot of things about the South that I don't get. I hope I'm not being too judgmental." 'I really am trying not to come across that way.'

Ainsley rubbed his arm. "You're not. I'd tell you if you were."

"Good." He kissed her temple when he noticed her rounded eyes and that the inner corners of her eyebrows were raised. 'Something's wrong.' "What is it?"

Ainsley's voice was small. "What if … what if it is too late?" She chewed her lip.

Sam's eyes rounded with concern as he furrowed his brows. "For what?"

"For us… for us to have kids." Ainsley whispered.

He stroked her hair. 'It's gonna be okay. And no matter what, I'll love you through it all.' "…Then we'll face it together. You won't have to face it alone. We'll do fertility treatments, IVF, surrogacy, adoption… whatever it takes. We'll have as many kids as you want, whether it's one kid or ten or fifty or a hundred."

"I dunno about a hundred kids." Ainsley laughed. "I was thinkin' more like 4 or 5 kids, dependin' on where life takes us…. I'd like to adopt at least one kid either way if we can. I know from my family's experience that it can take a long time to get approved and sometimes the mamas change their minds and all that, but I'd really like to adopt."

Sam pulled Ainsley in and rubbed her arm. "Then we'll make all that happen."

Ainsley smiled. "Mmmm… Look at you, always makin' everythin' right for everyone. I've said it before, and I'll say it again and again. It's like you're a superhero." She kissed one cheek as she held the other in her hand.

"You're my hero." Sam said.

Ainsley looked him as she rested her hand on his chest. "I'm your hero? I dunno if I've done anythin' heroic."

Sam let out a laugh. 'Yes you have.' "You mean besides being a Navy fighter pilot? You gave me a reason to live after what happened to my dad. I'd say that's pretty heroic."

Ainsley played with Sam's silky brown hair. "A reason to live?"

"Well… if it hadn't been for you, and the other guys and God obviously, I don't know if I would've survived that betrayal." Sam said.

Ainsley's hand rested on his chest. "I just… I just couldn't stand to see you in pain like that and I had to keep you goin'."

"I'm glad you did." Sam said.

"I'm always gonna keep you goin'." Ainsley nestled into Sam's chest.

"Good." Sam said.

"I have Faith that whatever's supposed to happen for us will happen and I know God has a plan, but…" A tear fell from Ainsley's eyes onto Sam's chest.

"Yeah. Shhh…." 'It's gonna be okay.' He murmured into her hair as he wiped her tears.

Ainsley looked up at Sam. "I still stand by what I said earlier. I want whatever life has you in it."

"Good." He kissed her temple. " 'Cause I want whatever life has you in it." 'For better or for worse.'

Ainsley smiled. "Wow, Seaborn. You must really love me."

'And there are no bounds for how much I love you.' "I really do, Hayes. I really do." Sam said.

"I love you, too." Ainsley kissed him.

XXXXXXXXXXX

Ainsley's POV

Ainsley rested her head on Sam's chest. "Let me know if there's any big words that you don't understand." She lay snuggled into him underneath the hotel's scratchy sheets and covers.

Sam draped his arm around her waist. "Hey, listen, Toby doesn't know what he's talking about."

"I'm KIDDIN'! Relax. … The look on your face was just really funny. We were all dyin' of laughter back there." Ainsley laughed.

"At my expense!" Sam said.

Ainsley stifled a laugh. "True. But it was still funny, mainly because of the expression on your handsome face."

"What expression was that?" Sam played with her hair.

Ainsley laughed. "Like you wanted to give it back to him so badly but you couldn't around the kids."

Sam smiled. "Well, you're not wrong."

"For what it's worth, I found it adorable." Ainsley kissed his cheek.

"You did?" Sam asked.

Ainsley traced the curvature of Sam's chest muscles with her finger. "You handlin' Clementine … interactin' with the horses… followin' directions… playin' with the kids. It was all very cute."

"I don't think holding Clementine took that much skill." Sam said.

'Sam… you're missin' my point.' "It does take a certain skill. It takes a certain gentleness and respect for the animal." Ainsley said.

Sam shrugged. "Well, I've had some practice."

'Not what I meant either.' "You also did an excellent job with not losin' your mind with my family's ways." Ainsley said.

"Well, I had fun." Sam said.

"What I'm sayin' … is it all made my heart melt because I know that's how you're gonna be with our little family." Ainsley said.

Sam kissed her temple. "I can't wait for that."

Ainsley smiled. "Me neither. I keep seein' your strikin', beautiful cornflower blue eyes and your charmin' smile and your perfect hair and really everythin' about you in our little kids and I just melt."

Sam laughed. "You keep picturing kids that look like me? I'm picturing little kids with your beautiful blonde hair and your enchanting green eyes and your boundless charm."

Ainsley laughed. "You're the one with all the charm."

"How do you think I noticed you in the first place?" Sam asked.

"Because I kicked your ass on TV." Ainsley said.

"But there was something about you, even then." Sam said.

"Yeah, because I kicked your ass and that had you smitten, even if you didn't wanna admit it." Ainsley said.

Sam smiled. "That's true enough."

"It's amazin' what a blonde, leggy Republican with a JD/MBA can do." Ainsley kissed his cheek.

Sam kissed her temple. "Yes, it is."

"We've both come a long way since then, haven't we?" Ainsley said. 'And I can't wait to see how far we go, or to fall more in love with you each and every day.'

Sam smiled. "Yeah. We have."

"You think my eyes are enchantin'?" 'Have you SEEN your eyes?' Ainsley asked.

"Of course I do." Sam said

"It's funny… that's how I'd describe your eyes, especially the effect they have on me." Ainsley said.

Sam looked at Ainsley. "That's not the only thing I find enchanting."

Ainsley quirked an eyebrow. "Really? What else do you find enchantin' about me?"

"Your charm, your wit, your… your everything." He played with her hair.

"My everythin'?" Ainsley asked.

"Yes, your everything." Sam said

"How enchantin' exactly?" Ainsley asked. Sam gave her a passionate kiss as he laid her on her back.

XXXXXXX

Ainsley's POV

"Hey Ainse?" Sam stroked her waist.

Ainsley looked up at him. "Yeah?"

"Will our kids have to … you know… call people 'sir' and 'ma'am' all the time?" Sam asked.

"Does it bother you?" Ainsley asked.

"I just think… kids should be kids. They shouldn't have to be so serious all the time." Sam said.

"What do you suggest? That they call us by our first names?" Ainsley asked.

"No, but they shouldn't have to say 'sir' or 'ma'am', at least not all the time." Sam said

"Sir or ma'am is for when they're asked to do something, especially when discipline's involved." Ainsley raised an eyebrow.

"In that case, yes. Just not all the time." Sam said.

"And sometimes kids call adults they're close with 'Uncle' or 'Aunt' or 'Auntie'. Like our kids would call Josh 'Uncle Josh' and Kat could be 'Auntie Kat' or 'Auntie Kitty'. They just call you Mr. Sam cause Uncle Sam it's premature." Ainsley said.

"Yeah, that's fair." Sam said.

"Each family does the sir and ma'am thing a little differently. The kids will just need to know when to say it. We have a very strong culture of respect for elders." Ainsley smiled.

"Fair enough…. They really put you on a horse as a baby?" Sam asked.

"Yea… I mean… they'd only put me on a horse they trusted. And you saw in that picture how they stayed with me the whole time." Ainsley said.

"Just don't go getting any ideas when it comes to our kids. At least not until they can hold their heads up." Sam said.

Ainsley smiled. "Look at you bein' all protective, and we don't even have kids yet."

"You bet I am." Sam said.

Ainsley stifled a laugh. "What're you gonna do, wrap 'em in bubble wrap and make them go everywhere with Captain America's shield?" 'I mean … you can try that, but I don't think it'll work.'

"Yeah, and Captain America's going everywhere with them." Sam said and Ainsley laughed. "It's not funny."

Ainsley laughed. "I'm sorry, Honey, it kinda is… What happened to lettin' kids be kids?"

"I've realized you can never try too hard to protect your kids." Sam said.

"How did you realize that?" Ainsley asked.

Sam clung to Ainsley. "Because… my parents didn't protect me. They gave me everything … everything except a dad who cared." His eyes grew round.

Ainsley touched his face and kissed his cheek. "Oh, Sweetheart…. Your dad does care about you."

Sam shrugged with the inner corners of his eyebrows raised. "Maybe he does care about me, but not enough to be faithful to my mom."

Ainsley took his hand in hers. "Sweetheart, I promise you that our kids aren't in danger of gettin' hurt like that."

Sam kissed her knuckles. "I know. But I still worry."

Ainsley kissed his shoulder. "You don't need to worry about that." 'Because it's not even in you.'

"… I… I… I can't help it." Sam said.

'Oh, Sweetheart.' "We've been over this. Are you really gonna beat yourself up over somethin' you could never do?" Ainsley said.

"No." Sam said.

"Well… that's what you're doin'." Ainsley said.

"I'm sorry." Sam said.

Ainsley sighed. "Oh, Sweetheart… What're you apologizin' to me for? I just wish that you wouldn't be so hard on yourself."

Sam shrugged. "It's how I hold myself accountable."

Ainsley nodded. "I get that."

"Okay. Then you get why I wanna protect them." Sam held her hand.

Ainsley nodded. "Yes, I do. And I wanna protect them too, but I also want them to grow up to be fully functionin', thrivin' adults."

"I do too." Sam said.

"How's that gonna happen if they go through their childhood without skinnin' their knees?" Ainsley asked.

"I… I don't know." Sam said.

"I think we'll need a balance. Iron clad protection from the bad things in the world? Yes. … Life jackets if we go sailin' or doin' somethin' out on the lake? Yes. … Bike and ridin' helmets? Yes. … Do we teach them the safety rules for interactin' with horses? Yes. … But do they need life jackets and arm floaties for swimmin' once they know how to swim?" Ainsley asked.

"No, I guess not." Sam said.

"And you know… we'll teach them the rules for things like bein' around the horses and goin' to the pool and the lake and the beach. If they can't treat the horses right and be safe doin' that stuff, then they don't get to do it." Ainsley said.

"Okay." Sam added.

"And you saw how Reagan, Ava, and Kelly were around the horses the other day, and Kelly's three." Ainsley said.

"That's true." Sam said.

"They were even teachin' you the rules. I reckon that if you weren't such a good student, then you would've gotten yourself spanked." Ainsley added.

Sam chuckled. "Probably."

"And I would've thoroughly enjoyed it." Ainsley laughed.

"Really? I can't imagine you skinning your knees and being happy about it." Sam said.

Ainsley waved it off. "That's different. I'm sayin' that Reagan, Ava, and Kelly kickin' your butt would be funny."

"Yes, it would be." Sam said.

"Just like their Auntie Ainsley did on TV. "Ainsley kissed his cheek.

"Hayes women seem to have a knack for that." Sam said.

"Yes, we do. … I grew up experiencin' life. It built up my confidence to be able to new try things… I'm not sayin' we let them ride their bikes without helmets, but perhaps they don't need knee and elbow pads." Ainsley said.

Sam nodded. "That's true."

"Sometimes fallin' off your bike and skinnin' your knees is good cause you learn to get back up." Ainsley added.

Sam kissed her temple. "Yeah. I want our kids to learn how to do that."

"You know we both grew up in the 60's and 70's and we turned out just fine." Ainsley said.

"But the world is different now. It's more dangerous." Sam said.

"Yeah, for some things, like with child molesters and monitorin' what tv shows they get to watch and what music they listen to and video games they get to play. Does that mean that they need to grow up in bubble wrap?" 'I get why you're worried. I really do.' Ainsley asked.

"Probably not." Sam said.

"I just don't want our kids to grow up to be soft. I want 'em to have resilience and adventure. I want them to have the courage and the confidence to live on the edge. You don't get that courage, resilience, adventure, and confidence growin' up in bubble wrap." Ainsley said.

"Yeah, you're right. I'll try harder to let them be kids … you know, when we have them." Sam said.

"I know, Sweetheart. I know." Ainsley kissed his shoulder before they got up to get ready for the day.

XXXXXXXXXXX

Sam's POV

Ainsley looked over at Donna as she argued with Josh outside another motorcade car and Josh attempted to avoid getting in the same car as Donna. "I wouldn't wanna be Josh right now."

"Yeah, me neither." Sam held the door for Ainsley. "After you, my love."

Ainsley blushed. "Your love?" She kissed him.

Sam beamed. "Yes, my love." He lifted her hand to kiss her knuckles.

"Well, thank you." Ainsley stepped in the car.

Sam slid in the back of the car beside her. "You're welcome." He kissed her cheek.

Ainsley leaned into Sam's side as she squeezed his other hand. "…You're not your dad, you know."

Sam's hand rested on her tulip skirt. "...How do you know that?"

"Because… I know you." She held one cheek with her hand and kissed the other. "It's not that wouldn't cheat on me, it's that you couldn't cheat on me. You don't have any of that in you."

"I know, … but…. sometimes I feel like I do." Sam said.

Ainsley squeezed his hand. "Then I'll just have to keep remindin' you that you don't."

Sam squeezed her hand back. "I just… I just don't wanna mess this up. Being a good husband to you and a good dad to our kids are the two most important things I'll ever do."

"That… is the sweetest thing you've ever said." Ainsley said.

Sam looked at her. "Ever?"

Ainsley looked back at Sam. "Ever. … For the record, I feel the same way about bein' your wife and a mom to our kids."

Sam smiled. "Last night, as you lay sleeping on my chest and the moonlight catching your beautiful blonde hair mesmerized me, -"

"My hair was mesmerizin'?" Ainsley asked.

"Yes, like everything else about you." Sam said.

Ainsley blushed. "Oh, Sam."

"It's true. Anyway, I was thinking more about what we talked about." Sam said.

Ainsley chewed on her inner lip. "About me gettin' pregnant?"

"Yeah. And about doing anything that we can do to make it easier. We should do our research now for when we're ready. I'll start eating fish and even meat if it'd make a difference." Sam said.

Ainsley's eyes went wide. "Sam, no-"

"No, Babe, listen. What I want is for you to have safe and healthy pregnancies, and not just for your sake, but for the sake of our kids. I'm not saying that I'm definitely gonna stop being a vegetarian, but think about it. I eat a lot of soy-based protein, which has a lot of estrogen. I'm not a doctor, but it's not unreasonable to think that it might make a difference." Sam said.

"You really think it'll make a difference?" Ainsley asked.

Sam shrugged. 'Maybe. Probably.' I just wanna do research. Who knows? We might find out that tofu is actually really good for male virility. … But my main point is that it should be on both of us, not just you. And I know for a fact that if you found anything connecting Fresca to infertility, you'd give it up in a heartbeat, at least while we're trying to get pregnant. It's at least worth looking into. … Even if it turns out to not make a difference, it'd still be worth it."

"That is the second sweetest thing you've ever said." Ainsley said.

Sam smiled. "Boy, I'm on fire today, aren't I?"

Ainsley laughed. "Yes, you are."

"I'm not saying that we need to make drastic changes to our diets, but I think we should make small, gradual changes in moderation that should start sooner rather than later. Like you probably don't need to completely cut out sweet tea or fried chicken or your raw meat-" Sam smirked.

Ainsley rolled her eyes. "I don't eat raw meat. I get my steak rare or rare plus. I just like my steak properly cooked."

"It's raw steak." Sam said.

Ainsley raised her eyebrows. "I have respect for my beef."

'Raw steak is just weird. Why would anyone wanna eat raw meat?' Sam laughed. "I think you're wrong, but…okay… Anyway, we don't have to go crazy with it, and I think we should get started so can just help us get used to it…. I just want this to be as smooth and easy as it can be."

XXXXXXXXXX

Sam's POV

Reporters stood in a huddle outside Tupelo Honey where the campaign was scheduled to eat breakfast. "Ainsley Hayes, as a North Carolinian, how does it feel to be back home?" A local reporter asked.

"It feels good to be back home, where my dream of politics started." Ainsley held Sam's hand.

"Did y'all spend any time with your family?" Another local reporter asked.

Sam squared his jaw with a fierce glint in his bright cornflower blue eyes. He stood between Ainsley and the reporter as he spoke in a commanding tone. 'Oh hell no.' "That's enough. She's not answering that." He pushed through the gaggle with Ainsley.

"Did you ask her dad for his blessing?" Another reporter asked.

CJ's eyes bulged as she intervened. "Hey! Back off!"

Ainsley batted her eyelashes at Sam as he held the door for her. "Look at you, bein' my knight in shining armor… D'you have any idea how much that's turnin' me on right now?"

Sam smiled. "I can't wait to find out."

Ainsley pouted. "I have to wait? It's not polite to keep a lady waitin'."

"Who said anything about waiting?" Sam pulled her in for passionate kiss with a dip at the end.

"Well, you're quite somethin', aren't you, Sam Seaborn?" Ainsley twinkled her eyes at him as she sat down in the booth.

"That's just a preview." Sam slid in next to her. 'Just wait till we get back.'

Josh stopped by their booth. "Mind if I join you guys?"

"Not at all." Sam said.

Josh slid in the seat across from them. "Look, I just…wanted to say that I was sorry." He averted his brown eyes with his shoulders hunched.

"It's okay… It's just that Ainse's family has been so good to me and it's very important that they keep liking me cause I'm in this forever. Luckily, her family wasn't offended, but that just goes to show just how tolerant they are. They certainly had a right to be offended." 'That might not matter to you, but it does to me.' Sam said.

"Yeah, I guess they did." Josh said.

XXXXXXXXXX

Sam's POV

Sam held Ainsley's hand as they sat aboard Air Force One. "Didya know that Ainsley's parents put her on a horse as a baby?"

CJ creased her forehead. "Did you fall off?" She sipped her diet Dr. Pepper.

Ainsley glared at Sam. "No…. cause contrary to what the Great Purveyor of Misinformation implied … my daddy held me up the whole time while my uncle led me around the arena."

Sam smirked at Ainsley. "Did you just call me the Great Purveyor of Misinformation?"

"Yes, I sure did, Samuel." Ainsley nodded.

Toby perked up. "Did Sam just get spanked?"

"It happens more frequently than I'd like to admit." Sam said with a pained expression.

"Only when you've earned it. … You see what you've done? You're givin' everyone the wrong idea… You might as well tell everyone that I eat raw meat!" Ainsley lightly smacked Sam on the arm.

"You DO eat raw meat!" Sam said.

"You eat raw meat?" Toby said.

Ainsley rolled her eyes before she shot Sam a glare. "I get my steak rare or rare plus. And as I told Sam THIS MORNIN', I just want my beef cooked right. I pay proper respect to my beef. It's not like I get my burgers rare. Just steak."

'You could still get sick, and I don't want you to get sick, because I LOVE you.' Sam thought.

"I'm with you on that. Steak shouldn't be leathery and tough. The exterior should be cooked with a nice, juicy, bright red center." CJ said.

Ainsley turned to Sam. "SEE?! CJ gets it. That's what I've been sayin' all along, Samuel!"

"I see you've been fully inducted into the Sisterhood." Sam said.

"Darn tootin'." Ainsley said.

"Darn tootin'?" Josh asked.

"It means 'damn right'." Ainsley said.

"Wow, Sam. Ainsley got you good. Almost as good as Capitol Beat." Josh leaned back in his seat.

"I have to say, it was satisfying to watch." Toby chewed his gum.

Sam turned to Toby. "Thanks, Toby. You know, you're always there for me in my time of need."

Toby raised his eyebrows as he chewed his gum. "Glad I could be of service."

Donna chuckled. "Sorry Sam, it was pretty funny."

Bartlet entered the cabin. "What's this I hear about Sam getting spanked?"

Charlie followed behind Bartlet. "Sam got spanked? Surprised it didn't happen sooner."

Toby leaned back in his seat. "Yea, Ainsley just spanked him real good for all of us to see."

"Ah, well I'm sorry I missed it. I would've enjoyed that. I hate to tell ya, Sam, but that's life with a woman for ya." Bartlet said.

"It's certainly not the first time he's been the Great Purveyor of Misinformation, or the first time he's been spanked. At least this time it wasn't on national TV." Ainsley said.

Bartlet sat in the chair across from Sam. "Well, Sam, I can correct whatever misinformation you've been given. What happened?"

"He was tellin' everyone that my parents put me on a horse as a baby. Which is true, but he left out the part about how my uncle led the horse around the arena while my daddy held me up on the horse the entire time. He also failed to mention that the horse was bomb proof… He also says that I eat raw meat, when I just like my steak cooked right." Ainsley said.

"Well, that's not a bad thing." Bartlet said.

"He just doesn't understand that steak should be cooked rare or maybe rare plus." Ainsley said.

"Cooked? It's barely cooked at all!" Sam exclaimed. 'I just don't want you to get sick because I LOVE you!'

"Now, Sam, rare steak is perfectly cooked." Bartlet said.

Ainsley's eyes twinkled with a smile. "See? Even the President agrees with me."

"Well, the President agrees with you on almost everything." Sam said.

"That's because we're right on almost everythin'." Ainsley kissed Sam's cheek.

Sam gazed at Ainsley. 'I love you so much, even when you're wrong.'

"That we are." Bartlet said.

XXXXXXXXXX

Sam's POV

Sam looked in disbelief at the Woody themed gift bag with a Woody Mylar balloon attached outside his office door. "No. No. No way." He peaked inside gift bag.

Ginger walked by with a smile. "Been in any Westerns lately? How about Sheriff Woody's Roundup?"

Sam's jaw dropped. 'No.' "It was ... it was you."

Ginger smirked. "Ask your girlfriend. She's the one who told me where to find the cowboy stuff."

Sam laughed. "Of course she did."

"Can't wait to see it!" CJ said.

"Does it come with a sheriff's badge?" Donna looked over Sam's shoulder.

'Really, guys?' "Can you two step into my office for a sec?" Sam asked.

"What seems to be the trouble, Sheriff Sam?" CJ said.

'Really?' Sam rolled his eyes.

"Yeah sure." Donna said.

Sam's hands hung in his dress pant pockets as he tucked his chin under. "So I asked Ainsley's dad for his blessing, you know, to ask Ainsley to marry me."

"You really asked her father?" CJ asked.

Sam looked at CJ. 'Of course I did. This is the South.' "Absolutely."

Donna's face lit up. "Tell us everything!"

"I had just finished up my run with the dogs and the mini horse-" Sam said.

"The mini what?" CJ asked.

"The mini horse, Vixie. She's a horse the size of a large dog, and I swear she thinks she's a dog. She goes where the dogs go. She even goes in the house sometimes." Sam said.

CJ raised her eyebrows. "That's a thing?"

"Yea. Anyway, I finished up my run and stopped to talk to her dad on the way back to the house while he was mucking out the stalls. I offered to help and we got to talking. Right before I got to asking him for his blessing, he said that I didn't need to convince him and that I didn't just have his blessing, but his support too." Sam's hands slung in his pockets.

"That's really sweet." Donna said.

"Ainsley said her family was gonna hound you about your marriage plans. Did they?" CJ said.

"The first night at the dinner table." Sam said.

CJ's square jaw dropped. "Really? The first night?"

Sam laughed. "They don't waste time in the South when it comes to marriage and family."

"I'll say. I wish we coulda thrown Amy in the mix." CJ said.

Sam hesitated. "That… wouldn't be such a good idea, considering Josh broke up with Amy because she kept calling Ainsley a bimbo."

CJ's protruding blue eyes popped. "She WHAT?!" She leaned forward.

"Yeah she kept blaming the marriage incentives in the welfare bill on Ainsley and even wanted Josh to call her up so she could go after her." Sam said.

"Please tell me Josh didn't go along with it." CJ said.

"He didn't. I woulda killed him if he did. … Anyway, I thought it was ridiculous at first too, but now I get it." Sam said.

"What're you talking about? How are you not pissed?" CJ said.

"They're not trying to force us to have kids. It's just that tradition and family values are extremely important to them. And they're also worried that it'll be too late for us to have kids by the time we do get married. They just don't want us to have any regrets." Sam said.

"I guess that makes sense." Donna said.

"Yeah, It does." CJ leaned back and crossed her arms.

"How does Ainsley feel about that?" Donna asked.

"She really wants kids, but she's scared that we won't be able to have any." Sam said.

"And what about you? How do you feel about that?" Donna asked.

"We're in this together. I'll be by her side no matter what happens and I told her we'll have kids one way or another." Sam raised the inner corners of his eyebrows. "The truth is… it breaks my heart to see her so worried. She doesn't usually get like that."

"It'll be okay." Donna said.

Sam shrugged. "That's what I keep telling her, but…"

CJ nodded. "Yeah."

"Now… I didn't tell you any of that stuff. Let her come to you with it when, and if, she's ready." Sam said.

"Yeah." Donna and CJ agreed.

Sam perked up. "So anyway. I'm gonna need your help with the ring shopping and planning the proposal once the election's over. I'd love to see if we could find a reason for her to be on that Paris summit trip and propose there. I was thinking I could propose at the Eiffel Tower and then have live music and fireworks?"

CJ shook her head. "No. The Press would have a field day and the story would be that it's an abuse of power and taxpayer money."

"Oh, come on! Why not?" Sam asked.

"You know why!" CJ exclaimed. "Joe Schmoe doesn't get to bring his girlfriend to Paris on a taxpayer-funded trade summit trip and propose. And the ones who live that life don't do it on the taxpayer dime. And you damn well know that Ainsley'd tell you the same thing."

Sam sighed. "Yeah, she probably would. I just want it to be perfect and special for her."

CJ gave Sam a pointed look. "You haven't told anyone else, right?"

"I talked to one of her sisters about it." Sam said.

"The one who hosted us?" CJ asked.

"No, that was Emmeline. I talked to Eliza about it, who was also there." Sam said.

"So you haven't told the President about this very sweet idea, right?" CJ asked.

"No." Sam said.

CJ breathed a sigh of relief. "Good… Hey, I don't like it anymore than you do. You know that I'd let you do it if I could."

"Yeah, I do… Anyway, would you guys be willing to help me? Eliza gave me some heirloom diamonds that Ainsley's set to inherit and I wanna get something designed." Sam said.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

Toby's POV

Toby knocked on Sam's dark wooden office door. "Hey, Sam. Do you have a minute?"

Sam looked up with slightly raised eyebrows. "Yeah, sure. Come on in. Have a seat." He gestured to a chair.

Toby sat down. "I just wanted to apologize for the other day."

Sam furrowed his brows. "What're you talking about?"

"For telling you to shut up while we were at Ainsley's sister's house." Toby said.

Sam waved it off. "Don't worry about it. They were fine with Josh's outburst at dinner, so that was nothing."

"It felt like something." Toby said.

"Well, if you insist… I forgive you." Sam's eyes rounded as he raised the inner corners of his eyebrows.

"Yeah." Toby cocked his head as studied Sam's face. "Sam… is everything okay?"

"Yeah… it's just…. mhmmm…" Sam pursed his lips.

'Is it Josh? Because over my dead body will Josh break you and Ainsley up.' "What?" Toby asked.

"It's just that…Ainse's worried that we won't be able to have kids cause of her age and how old she'll be when we're ready, you know? And she just…she never gets like this." Sam rambled.

'Oh.' "She doesn't?" Toby asked.

"No. She may not look it, but she's practically made of steel." Sam said.

"That she is." Toby said.

"I just …. I just hate to see her like this, you know?" Sam asked.

"Yeah. I'm not gonna lie. It's not gonna be easy, but … she'll make it through. Like you said, she's made of steel." Toby said.

Sam rounded his eyes and raised inner corners of his eyebrows. "I just… I just wish I could fix it, ... or ... as Ainsley says, 'make it right for her', you know?"

Toby raised his eyebrows. "I know you do." 'Ainsley's right… You really do have this need to 'make it right' for everyone, but… at some point you gotta learn that sometimes you just can't.'

"How… how did you handle that… that.. that feeling?" Sam asked.

"I did what I could to make her feel better, but… it's not about 'fixing it' or 'making it right'. It's about being there for her and reminding her that it's not her fault, cause knowing Ainsley, she's probably going to blame herself." Toby said.

"Well I started making some changes, like doing research on whether or not I should still be a vegetarian. … And yeah, I know she's gonna blame herself and that kills me. … And… this goes without saying, but … but can this stay between us?" Sam said.

"Of course." Toby said.

"It's just…. Josh. I just can't deal with Josh's reaction to me thinking about this and him making Ainsley feel bad for being worried about it or anything like that." Sam said.

'You shouldn't be. I don't think he'd go that far.' "Don't worry about that. I'll handle Josh." 'That is, if it is an issue.' Toby said.

"Thank you." Sam said.

"And I think you'll find that a lot of people around here would line up to help me." 'But I don't think it'll be that big of an issue.' Toby said.

"Good." Sam said.

"She's gonna be fine, you know. No matter what happens." Toby said.

"I know, I just wish that her strength didn't have to be tested." Sam said.

"It's not a matter of whether you want her to be tested or not. It'll happen regardless. You just gotta be there for her. And you guys won't be alone in that." Toby said.

XXXXXXXXXX

Josh's POV

Josh stood in Leo's office doorway. "You wanted to see me?"

Leo looked up from his desk. "Yeah, come in. Sit down." He put away his reports sat as Josh sat across from him. "So I heard you couldn't keep your trap shut at dinner with Ainsley's family."

Josh shrugged. "I had a question."

"What question could have been so important that you'd embarrass Sam?" Leo asked.

"I wanted to know why they couldn't nominate a candidate with gravitas." Josh mumbled.

"And what did her dad say?" Leo asked.

"According to Ainsley's dad, Ritchie speaks to Middle America." 'Which isn't hard, since they're all so dumb.' Josh said.

Leo sighed. "A candidate with gravitas … a candidate with gravitas. Any particular reason why you couldn't at least wait a couple hours to ask Ainsley?"

Josh shrugged. "I wanted her dad's opinion." He averted Leo's eyes and hunched his shoulders.

"That's not what that dinner was about! These people, these incredibly kind and gracious people, invited you into their home and you're telling me that you couldn't set aside politics for a couple hours, even for Sam?!" Leo shouted.

'I did it FOR Sam.' "I guess not." Josh said.

"Why would you make him look bad? Why would you do anything to jeopardize the relationship that Sam's built with her family?" Leo said.

"Because I don't like their politics." Josh said.

"They don't like your politics and yet they invited you into their home." Leo said.

Josh shrugged. "Guess it's a knee-jerk reaction."

"Here I thought that Sam was your best friend." Leo said.

Josh scowled. "He is my best friend. That's why." 'He deserves better.'

Leo's voice dripped with sarcasm. "That's why what? That's why you'd mess up the best thing that ever happened to him?" His angular jaw dropped. "Oh… my God … that's exactly what this is about. You've known Sam a lot longer than me. Has he ever been this happy?"

"No." Josh said.

"Doesn't Ainsley bring out the best in him?" Leo asked.

'Debatable.' "Yes. She does." Josh said.

"Then what's the issue? That she's a Republican?" Leo asked.

'Well … yeah.' "Does that surprise you?" Josh asked.

"I would've thought that Sam's happiness would've trumped that for you. If Sam's happy and is the best version of himself when he's with Ainsley, then who cares what her political views are?" Leo asked.

'Well he's not the best version of himself, not exactly.' "I do. She's not good enough for him." Josh said.

"How?" Leo asked.

"Because she's not one of us." Josh said.

"How is she not one of us?! She even works on the campaign!" Leo exclaimed.

'Because she's taking Sam from me.' "I can't explain it." Josh said.

"Then allow me to come up with my own explanation. You can't find it in yourself to be happy that your best friend has found the person who makes him a better man, cause in the world of Josh Lyman, the notion that the things unite us are far greater than what divides us is a fallacy. How am I doing so far?" Leo asked.

'It IS a fallacy!' "That about covers it." Josh said.

"Do you really put that much stock in a person's politics?" Leo asked.

"For this, yes." Josh said.

"Why?" Leo asked.

"Because Ainsley's not right for Sam." Josh said.

"For reasons other than her politics?" Leo asked.

'Do I need another reason?' "No." Josh said.

"What's the issue? Cause you think his politics'll change?" Leo asked.

'Yeah.' Josh nodded.

Leo shrugged. "They probably will. Her politics'll change too. Is that such a bad thing?"

'I don't care about hers changing, just his.' "I guess not." Josh said.

"But there's more to it, isn't there? You'd like to be lifelong bachelors on the political scene with Sam. You want that life with women fawning over the two of you cause you just got some pro-choice bill passed. Well take it from me, from the guy who gave up everything for politics: I love the work that we do, but there's not a day that goes by that I don't regret putting my marriage first. This hotshot, powerful bachelor life that you want? It's lonely, especially once you get to my age. … I even have days where I considered leaving it all behind to fix things with Jenny. I love this job, but there's more to life than what we do. … I hope one day you grow up enough to see it. But if you can't, don't bring Sam down with you. … You want Sam to be happy, don't you?" Leo asked.

"Of course I do." 'Which is why I can't let him marry her.' Josh said.

"Then be supportive. Otherwise, you're gonna lose him." Leo said.

"He works in the White House. That should make him happy." Josh said.

"Take it from a man who learned the hard way that that's not the case. My only regret that I have is not making more time for my family." Leo said.

'Why?' "Really? I just… I just don't see life that way." Josh said.

"Jenny and Mallory should have always come first. If I could get that time back, I would in a heartbeat. If Jenny ever said that she'd take me back, I'd resign immediately." Leo said.

'Well that's another reason for Sam not to marry anyone.' "I don't have anyone like that." Josh said.

"But Sam does. Why would you wanna take that away from him?" Leo asked.

"Because I don't want him to marry her." Josh said.

"Why do you want him to be miserable?" Leo asked.

"I don't." 'But he will be if he marries her.' Josh said.

"If you don't want him to be miserable, then why don't you want him to marry her?" Leo asked.

'Because I don't wanna lose him.' "She's a Republican, and she's not good for him." Josh said.

"How is she not good for him? And for the love of God, say something other than the fact that she's a Republican." Leo said.

Josh hesitated. 'What more do I need?' "She's… she's changing him."

"How?" Leo asked.

"He goes to Church now." Josh said.

"So? The President, The First Lady, and I all go to Church. Do you have a problem with that?" Leo asked.

"No. But Sam doesn't go." 'Or he didn't until that bitch manipulated him.' Josh said.

"There are any number of reasons why he started going to church, none of which are your business. Especially not with your attitude." Leo said "Why does he have to get your seal of approval before he goes to church or gets married, or does anything for that matter?"

"Because I know him better than Ainsley does." Josh said.

"Maybe you do, maybe you don't. It's likely that you don't. You certainly don't know him better than he knows himself." Leo said.

"Maybe I do." Josh said.

"How can you possibly know him better than he knows himself?" Leo asked.

"I just do." 'Obviously, cause otherwise he wouldn't be with her or going to church if he did.' Josh said.

"Anyone who thinks that clearly doesn't know what they're talking about." Leo said.

"Why would you say that?" Josh asked.

Leo's face strained as the whites of his eyes popped out. "Because you're not God, Josh!"

"I don't believe in God." Josh said.

Leo groaned. "I know you don't, but that doesn't make you one."

"I know it doesn't." 'Well… it kinda does.' Josh said.

"Then why do you think you're as powerful as God?" Leo asked.

Josh shrugged. 'Well… maybe not that much, but I am powerful.' "I don't know."

"That's not an answer." Leo said.

"I don't have one. Not a good one." Josh said.

"Humor me." Leo said.

"I've always felt like I was better than everyone else. I don't know why." Josh said.

"Well you're not, but you think that because you've always been very spoiled and treated like you're the center of everything. But that's something to work out with your therapist." Leo said.

'You think I'm spoiled?' "How did you know I'm still in therapy?" Josh said.

"I didn't. I meant that a therapist could help you figure it out." Leo said.

"Maybe he can." Josh said.

"My point is that you're not better than everyone else. And you certainly don't get to decide what's right for Sam or anyone else. You're not that important." Leo said.

'Yes, I am! And I'm the only one who cares about him.' "Okay. I hear you." Josh said.

"Get that stuff worked out, cause I don't want you to end up like me." Leo said.

'Okay, neither do I.' "Point taken." Josh said.

"If you can't, then at least don't drag Sam down with you." Leo said.

"I won't." 'I'll try not to, but I also gotta save him.' Josh said.

"Good. I don't wanna have this conversation with you again, but I will if I need to. I assume that you have work to get today, so you're free to go." Leo said.

XXXXXXXXXX

How do you think the conflict with Josh will resolve?

What do you think the characters should do to help fix that situation?

What do you think about the way each of the characters' responded to Josh's behavior?

How do you think the dinner would have gone if Leo was there?

When it comes to steak, are you Team Bartlet-CJ-Ainsley or Team Sam?