"Aurelia?" Jamie rolled over on his side, plastering his face right next to hers on the pillow. He could smell her breath. It smelled of remnants of their chicken dinner and Ice Breakers gum.
"Mmm?" she mumbled, opening her eyes a crack. "What is it?"
Jamie's eyes stared right into hers, serious as anything. He grabbed her hands under the covers, entwining their fingers together. "I'm ready."
She burst up, suddenly awake. "You are?"
"Let's have a baby."
- - - - -
As soon as David slid out of the limo, he could feel a very long day coming on. The paparazzi and reporters' cheers and questions and flashing of cameras was enough to make a man go mad. Then, to top it off, he was going to the meeting he'd been dreading for three years. He'd only conversed with the man through email and one phone call, and even that was awkward.
David walked steadily, one patent-leather foot after another. He could take it as slowly as he wanted. The reporters were up in his face, throwing microphones in front of his mouth.
"Are you going to fix the relationship with America?"
"What do you plan to say to this man?"
They all thought they knew. They didn't know anything. In all of those few emails and even that phone call, he'd mentioned Natalie. He always said, "I see you with that brunette on the news. She's looking mighty fine these days. Can't wait to see her again." He didn't try to hide it.
David shook these thoughts from himself with a quick shake of his shoulders. He passed by all the politicians, nodding his head and shaking a couple hands.
Finally, he reached the office. After he'd taken a big breath, he opened the door. There waited the president, his cocky eyes staring at his vice president, who was currently fighting with one of David's politicians. The president gave in input here and there, as did David. Neither greeted each other, but instead fought about what the group was deciding. David felt a searing flame inside his heart when he looked at the president, thinking about the moment when he'd walked in on him and Natalie.
Afterwards, the two sat down for the traditional shat in the room where they'd sat those three years ago. "So," said David, not looking at the president. David sipped his tea, wishing he could just leave.
"Will you not make a fool of yourself this time? Will you tell the world our relationship is secured, happy again?"
"I suppose I should."
"Or are you going to give another one of your pep talks?"
"If you continue to be rude to me, I might just have to do a pep talk and become the Hero of the Hour." David nodded, putting his hands on his knees to support himself as he stood up. "Yes, that seems like the better option."
"You can't lie to your country just because you don't like me. Whether you like it or not, Britain and America are in good connection and have a nice relationship, although you and I don't."
David shrugged. "Then I'll tell the truth and just despise you."
At that moment, as an unsettling silence fell over the room, Natalie burst in. She shot an apologetic look to David, mouthing, "I'll explain later." She made a shy business of setting the plates of biscuits and replacing the men's teas, barely wanting to make a sound.
"Hello, doll," the president grinned. "Are you not going to say hello?"
"Hello," she mumbled, placing three biscuits on his plate while David got four.
"We haven't chatted in three years! Come, sit down." He patted the couch-cushion next to him.
David rolled his eyes, cursing under his breath and watching Natalie intensely.
"I should be off, sir," she shrugged, pretending to be sorry. "I've got a busy day. Some parties to be catering to."
With that, Natalie was off before the president could say another word.
"She's gotten chunkier," frowned the president.
This was too much for David. He leapt across the table, grabbing at the president's tea cup. It spilled all over his papers, flowing softly over the olive-wood of the table. There was a sprawl of chaos. The president leapt back at David, crashing his teacup and letting it break into David's plate. David leapt back, hitting the couch and falling over onto it. Standing up, he slanted his eyes at the president.
"Natalie is not chunky."
Before the president could respond, Patty entered the room. "Sirs, it's time for the meeting," she smiled, then beckoned for them to follow her.
The room was loud, as usual. It was filled with flashes and yells and men with gelled-back hair and notepads in their hands. David surveyed the crowd then breathed out gently, searching for Natalie. He found her and smiled warmly, wanting to just get this all over with and be with his girlfriend.
"Prime Minister David sir! What is your feeling on America and Britain's relationship now? Last year, it wasn't at its best, if you recall."
"I think that America and Britain have resolved all conflict," began David, knowing he had to tell the truth—as much as he wanted to be the Hero of the Hour again. But he couldn't make the same speech as last year, and he didn't have the same amount of raw passion in him, so he couldn't make a last-minute speech. "We've bandaged the wound that was present three years ago. Our trade is easy, and our communication wonderful again. Thank you, America." He glanced at the president, wanting to be cruel to him, but decided against it because they were live on television.
"Mr. President? What do you have to say?" called another reporter.
"I agree!" he nodded.
The rest of the meeting went along fluidly, and at the end of the hour, both leaders exited the stage next to each other. Out of the side of his mouth, David hissed, "Stop being rude about my girlfriend or I'll come and kick you in the arse. Personally."
"Oh, really?" The president chuckled, waving to a reporter. The reporter waved back, excited at the prospect of being waved to by a president. "That'll be the day."
The two walked along silently until they were at the president's car.
"Good-bye, David," he said coldly, entering the car.
"Bye." David slammed the door shut.