November was a good month as Russell and Stevie's rapport was reestablished. But it was also dangerous because each knew what they were feeling. They just hadn't shared it with each other.

The McCords spent Thanksgiving with Elizabeth's brother Will Adams, his wife Sophie and their daughter Annie.

Russell's sons came home for Thanksgiving. It didn't feel as odd as it might have without Carol because holidays had often been interrupted if she was on call.

Russell called Stevie to his office after the Thanksgiving break.

"I have another favor to ask. I need a plus-one for a Christmas party. Or maybe it's a holiday gathering if we're not doing Christmas anymore. Anyway, it's December 15th, cocktails at nine. Your parents are going. I mention it in case it affects your decision."

"I don't have to ride with them and meet you there, do I?"

"I wouldn't put you through that. I'll pick you up at seven and we'll have dinner first."

Stevie didn't tell her parents that she was going with Russell. They knew she had plans for that evening but they hadn't asked for details and she didn't offer any. Alison was at college, Jason was out and her parents were making something for dinner when Russell rang the bell. Stevie was waiting and she left before they could come and see who was at the door.

Russell admired her dress when he helped her off with her coat at A Rake's Progress. Stevie had chosen it after finding out what her mother would be wearing. She didn't have to shop. Alison had gone through a period of designing fancy dresses and had made several for her sister. Tonight Stevie was wearing a tea-length strapless column dress in an unusual copper rose color. Her hair was pulled back in a knot and she wore stilettos but they weren't an extreme height.

Dinner was fun. Russell was deeply intelligent, sharp and sarcastic, and he could be charming when he needed to be or wanted to be. Stevie held her own. She had often been underestimated because she was pretty and was the least forceful in a family of strong personalities. But she had never felt that Russell underestimated her.

Twice people stopped at their table to greet Russell. He introduced her as Stephanie McCord and said nothing about her work in his office. Maybe they knew, maybe they didn't. Both times the party was mentioned. They would all be going on to the same place. Stevie thought she could read in their eyes compassion for Russell as a recent widower instead of censure for him being seen with such a young woman. Her last name didn't hurt either. She was politically connected so their being together didn't necessarily mean a romantic relationship.

The party was a typical DC gathering. Social on the surface but political through and through. Even as she enjoyed it Stevie understood that such events could become a duty rather than a pleasure. She saw her parents arrive a few minutes after Russell and her. Russell saw them, too. Stevie felt a little nervous. Russell didn't appear to be and probably wasn't. They watched her parents smile and shake hands as they crossed the room. Stevie was aware of the moment they saw Russell and the slight check when they saw their daughter beside him.

"Russell," Henry said.

"And Stevie," Elizabeth added. "Did we know you would be here?"

"I thought I mentioned it," Stevie said casually as if whether she had or not was utterly unimportant.

"Your daughter kindly agreed to accompany me to this tedious affair."

Stevie saw their tenseness relax. They were remembering that Stevie had been supportive of her boss after his wife died. This was one more example so it didn't mean anything else.

Stevie and Russell circulated, separating occasionally before coming back together. Stevie felt comfortable on her own. She recognized most everyone even if she didn't know them. Quite a few people greeted her and several who hadn't seen her parents yet asked after them. No one seemed to care who she was with even when she was with Russell. A lot of people were mingling and it wasn't always clear who anybody was with.

There was a moment when she and Russell were across the room from each other. Their eyes met and locked and it was as if a silent conversation took place in an instant. His expression said he wished they were alone and asked if she was all right. Hers replied that she was fine but alone with him would be better. They smiled and moved on and when they met again Russell said they had done their duty and could go.

The driver was up front so they weren't really alone on the way home. Russell had helped her into the car and she had taken his hand again after he got in. They didn't talk but it was an intimate silence. He walked her to the door. He leaned forward slightly to her left as if he was going to kiss her cheek as she had kissed his once. Stevie tilted her head so their lips met. Russell didn't draw back. Their mouths opened but it didn't get sloppy. They were holding each other and she wasn't sure how, it had happened so naturally. The kiss was slow and deep and it went on long enough that it was time to break off even if her parents with their security detail hadn't turned the corner onto their block.

"See you Monday, Stevie."

"Good night, Russell."

Upstairs, Stevie had taken off her shoes and jewelry when there was a knock at her door. "Come in."

Both parents looked in.

"Have a good time?" Henry asked.

"Yes, but I can see that the charm would wear thin after a while."

"The charm is already thin, it wears off entirely after a while," Henry said. "Night, Stevie.

"Good night, Dad."

He left but Elizabeth came in and unzipped her dress. "I should have said it before: You look lovely."

"So do you." It was true. Her mother wore anything well. Stevie was glad she'd inherited her tall slim figure.

"Well, it takes more effort now." Elizabeth smiled. "Good night, Stevie."

"Night, Mom."

So, no confrontation. Stevie wasn't sure if her parents thought there was nothing between her and Russell or if they didn't want to think about it at all. Probably they were waiting to see what happened next.

In their bedroom Elizabeth asked, "Was tonight weird? It seemed weird."

"I'm honestly not sure," Henry replied. "Was it really weird or are we making it weird by wondering if it was weird?"

"I don't believe Russell would do anything inappropriate."

"Me neither. He wouldn't compromise his office or Dalton's administration."

"So if we trust Russell's integrity it means that what we thought we saw wasn't really there."

"Maybe we were surprised because of the setting. My first thought was how much Stevie looked like you twenty years ago. And I know what I was thinking about you then."

"And I was thinking the same about you so maybe we're projecting."

"Neither of them acted any different. That's not surprising with Russell since he never gives anything away but surely we would have picked up on something with Stevie."

"Yes!" Elizabeth said with relief. "She's young, she doesn't hide her feelings. In her bedroom just now, she would have confessed or been defensive. You know, if there was anything to confess or be defensive about."

Everything had changed between them but at the office they were exactly the same with each other. Russell realized that he wasn't worried that Stevie might do or say something improper. He trusted her more than himself. He called her that night.

"We're going to be jammed for time through Christmas trying to avoid the threat of a shutdown. Come over for dinner on New Year's Eve and we'll talk."

"Just talk? Is that all?"

Long pause. "Probably not."

"In that case, yes."

"Jesus," Russell said softly. "Stay away from me at the office," he ordered, but Stevie heard the smile in his voice.

It was an easy order to follow. Russell had back-to-back meetings and calls. The government running out of money was an annual occurrence but a government shutdown almost never happened because an emergency bill to raise the debt ceiling or increase budget was passed. All it took was time, patience, paperwork and a lot of deal-making.

Russell spent Christmas quietly with Ken and Logan. He loved his sons and they seemed to feel the same about him but they weren't as close as the McCords. Russell had been at their house often enough the past few years to observe the family dynamic between parents and children. Maybe it was because Ken and Logan had boarded at prep school instead of attending day prep. The McCord kids were home for dinner most nights until they went off to college.

Christmas at the McCords was loud, fun and hectic. Alison came home from college a few days before and was in and out catching up with friends. Stevie found it easy to happily join in everything because she had New Year's Eve to look forward to.