"Mac." Rod shook President Allen awake. "Mac, you've gotta get up."
Mac groaned and threw the covers off. The last thing she wanted to do was to wake up, but she knew she had to. Brightening up, she remembered that they would find out the test results this morning. She hurried to get dressed, and all but ran to the Oval Office.
When she got there she hurried to finish what needed to be done for the morning, and had Laura cancel all of her appointments and meetings. She gave a number that she could be reached at in case of emergency and headed back to the residence. She met Rod there, and the two left in an inconspicuous car, though their security detail was just as big as usual.
They arrived at the big yellow house relatively quickly, and Mac hurried inside, followed by Rod. Ruth met them at the door again, and invited them in quickly. It was only nine o'clock, and they were there a bit early. Ruth led them into the living room and gave them some coffee. "She's upstairs sleeping." Ruth said, nodding her head toward the stairs.
The doctor arrived a few minutes after Mac and Rod, and Ruth hesitated before heading to the stairs. Mac noticed, and approached her slowly. "Anything wrong, Mrs. Jones?" Mac asked.
"I'm thinking that maybe we should find out before we wake her." Ruth said. "In case…in case it's not…"
Mac nodded. "I understand."
"She would be so disappointed." Ruth said. "I just can't…I don't think she would want to find out in front of you." She explained. "She would be so embarrassed, and my guess is that she wouldn't want you to see her wallow."
Mac nodded. "Then let's go find out some good news, and tell her." She said with a smile. They made their way back into the living room, where the doctor was hesitating, holding a manila envelope. Mac sighed and sat down next to Rod. He grabbed her hand and squeezed.
The doctor pulled the results out of the folder and looked at them. He looked up. The moment in which he paused seemed like the longest moment of her eyes, and she stopped herself from screaming at him to just hurry it up. He took a deep breath and smiled. "Congratulations, Madam President." He said. "She's yours."
Mac didn't hear anything else. All she could feel was her joy, and she couldn't wait to see how Catie reacted. She couldn't help herself, she stood up and hugged the doctor, and then Ruth. David and Rod shook hands, and the room was filled with smiles.
They waited a few minutes, and then David and Ruth sat Mac and Rod down. They saw the doctor off, and then sat down across from them in the living room.
"Madam President, Mr. First Gentleman, we need to discuss how this is going to work." Ruth said.
Mac nodded and smiled. "I figured we would have to soon." She said.
"We're open to almost everything, but we didn't know what you two had in mind." David said.
Mac sighed and looked at Rod. She looked back at the older couple in front of her. "To tell you the truth, we hadn't really discussed it." She said. "We've just been focused on making sure that she really is our daughter. And, just so you know, I couldn't be happier with how the test results turned out."
Ruth gave a small smile and nodded. "We understand that you need some time to think." She said. "And take all the time you need. I'm sure you have a very busy schedule. But, we want you to know, we just want what's best for her. We know she's not biologically our granddaughter, but we love her just the same. If being with you is what's best for her, and I think that may be the case, then we will support it wholeheartedly."
Mac nodded. "Believe me, Mrs. Jones." She said. "I only want what's best for her as well. And I'll do everything in my power to make sure that no harm, physical or otherwise, ever comes to her."
Ruth smiled. "I know you will." She said. "So, are you ready to go tell your daughter?"
Mac took a deep breath. "Wow." She said. "My daughter. That'll take some getting used to."
Ruth smiled and stood. "Mac, would you like to tell her?"
Mac looked at Rod, who nodded. "I'd love that." She said, looking back at Ruth.
Ruth led her up the stairs, and down the long but almost familiar hallway. After all, this was the third time Mac had seen it. Ruth paused at the door. She turned to Mac. "I love this girl with my whole heart." She said.
"I know." Mac said softly. "This may be hard to believe, but so do I."
Ruth nodded. "I'm a mother." She said. "I understand." She opened the door and motioned for Mac to enter before her. Mac made her way into the room. Her eyes immediately found their way to the sleeping figure of her…daughter. Ruth slid past Mac and sat down on the bed. She shook Catie gently awake. "Cait…darling, wake up." She said.
Catie began to wake up slowly, but looked immediately alert when she saw Mac. "Madam Pres…Mac." She said with a giant smile. The smile wavered as she remembered. "Oh." She said softly. "Is the doctor here yet."
"He left." Ruth said. She stood up, and Mac made her way over to the bed.
"Morgan!" Catie said to the sleeping figure next to her. She shook her friend awake, not as gently as Ruth had been. "Wake up, sleepyhead!"
Mac smiled, thinking of Amy. That sounded a lot like something her youngest child would say. Morgan opened her eyes and saw Mac, then jumped up. Mac smiled as Catie looked back at her, expectant. "Caitlyn Rose Jones," Mac began, "I am your mother." She held out her hand as if to shake Catie's.
Catie ignored the hand, and jumped into Mac's arms, giving her a big hug. "Hi, 'Mom'."
