Completed: October 2002

*****

The first rays of sun were coming up over the horizon as Sam wandered onto the balcony, the white terry cloth robe tied loosely around his waist. He rubbed his eyes and grabbed hold of the railing.

It had been Ellie’s idea to play hooky for a few days and take a vacation and he had to admit it was a good idea. Of course, he’d begged to go sailing somewhere, or somewhere tropical like the Caribbean but she’d had her heart set, and he knew better than to argue with her. So here they were in the Napa Valley.

The first night they’d stayed in San Francisco, enjoying the sights and sounds of the Bay before hiring a car and driving up into the valley. The black Mercedes convertible was now standing out in the parking lot, one of the perks to working for a successful law firm.

“You know, we’re supposed to be on vacation,” Ellie called, stepping out onto the balcony.

“You were asleep and I didn’t want to disturb you.”

“You didn’t seem to be concerned about that last night or for that matter the early hours of this morning,“ she purred coming up behind him and slipping a hand beneath his robe.

Sam jumped as her cold fingers began to tease at his nipple.

“Come back to bed.”

“And miss all this?” he teased, gesturing to the view.

It was a beautiful view. Wildflowers were abound throughout the neighbouring hillsides and the whole Valley was alive with the sprouting of the mustard seed into bright, golden-yellow flowers that blanketed the vineyards.

“Or you could stay out here and miss me doing this,” Ellie said, as her other hand dived into the waistband of his shorts and worked its way lower.

“Um.” Slowly, he turned in her embrace and cupped her face in his hands. “Seriously, we did the right thing.”

“I’m not the one you’re gonna have to convince.”

Sam groaned, “Ellie, we should, . . .um, . . harder. . .honey?” He backed them towards the door, shedding his robe as she continued to caress him.

*~*~*~*

Ellie wrapped a protective arm across Sam’s waist and nuzzled his neck. “I’m hungry.”

“So I gathered,” he laughed, brushing a stray hair from her face.

“For food, idiot.”

“Oh, room service?”

Ellie tilted her head to look up at him. “I thought we could go out.”

“Whatever you want, Mrs. Seabourn.” He lightly kissed her crown and sighed.

“That’s Dr. Seabourn to you,” she grinned, rolling out of his embrace and walking towards the bathroom.

That was something he could get used to. That, and spending the rest of his life with the woman in the bathroom. Who’d have thought that they would have taken such a big step when they left San Francisco four days before.

******

Sam reached over and turned the dial on the CD player until Dire Straits belted from the stereo. The black soft top was down and the sun was shining as they headed out of San Francisco.

Ellie pulled her hair back into a loose ponytail and studied the map. “You want the next intersection.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“Okay,” he turned to look at her and grinned.

“Keep your eyes on the road. . .,” she ordered. “. . .and your hands on the wheel.” Ellie covered his hand with her own and placed it back on the wheel. “There’s plenty of time for that later.”

“Or we could just pull over somewhere?” Sam offered, checking the mirror. “I don’t think they’d mind too much, do you?”

Ellie looked back over her shoulder at the black suburban tailing them. It had been the agents greatest concession and for that Ellie was thankful. No one knew they were in California and she didn’t really imagine someone would be lying in wait on the off chance the President’s daughter would be coming. The agents had therefore agreed to be discreet and allow them as much space as possible.

“I think we should wait until we’re in the privacy of the hotel.”

Sam turned off at the intersection and pulled onto the highway. He could wait an hour.

The Napa Valley Marriott was just over forty miles from downtown San Francisco and after a few wrong turns the couple pulled up outside of the main building at lunchtime.

They headed up the steps and into the reception lobby hand in hand, fully relaxed and looking forward to their vacation. The only thing distinguishing them from the other guests were the five men in dark suits trying to blend into the scenery.

“Good afternoon, Sir, Madam,” the receptionist greeted them. “Do you have a reservation?”

Sam gave her a warm smile and released his girlfriend’s hand. “Yes, in the name of Seabourn.”

Realization dawned on the young girl’s face as she looked between the red head and the dark haired young man. “Uh, of course. Let me get the manager.” She scurried off into the office leaving Sam looking perplexed.

“You haven’t exceeded your credit limit again, have you?” Ellie asked, leaning against the desk.

“I’ll have you know I balance my check book once a week. I have never been over drawn in my life,” Sam snorted.

“God, you do a great impression of my father,” she groaned, looking up at him as her hair tumbled around her face. “I was kidding.”

“Mr. Seabourn, Miss Bartlet, I’m Charles, I’m the manager,” a thin balding man announced approaching the desk. “We have a room reserved for you in the concierge wing and should you require anything, ask for me.”

“Thank you,” Sam stammered, shrugging at Ellie’s wide eyes. “But we didn’t request that.”

“A Mr. Butterfield called. He explained that Miss. Bartlet would be with you and that you would need privacy.” Charles clicked his fingers and two bellhops appeared. Taking Sam’s keys they headed outside for the luggage. “If you’ll follow me. . .”

Leading them through the main building, he showed them to a suite on the first floor, at least twice the size of their home in Baltimore. A small round dining table had been set up by the window, holding a complimentary basket of fruit and flowers while a couch and Television took up one corner of the room. Most of the room was taken up by the king sized bed.

“If there’s anything else. . .?”

Sam shook his head and reached in his pocket for a tip.

Charles shook his head firmly and retreated from the room, closing the door behind him.

“Remind me to thank Ron, next time we see him,” Ellie said, flopping onto the bed and kicking her legs in the air.

“I guess it’s a stupid question to ask what you want to do for the rest of the day.” Sam lifted his jacket over his head and tossed it over the back of the couch before toeing out of his shoes. “Mind if I put the news on?”

Ellie rolled her eyes. In the apartment they had three televisions not to mention a radio in the shower. Wherever Sam was you could guarantee that the news would be on.

“CJ’s going to be briefing shortly,” he emphasized, the first hint of a whine in his voice.

“Is she still with the shrink?”

Sam looked perplexed for a few seconds. “Yeah, and they’re having lots of sex, or so she keeps telling me. The briefing starts in five.”

“Yeah.”

“And she’s going to be releasing the polling numbers from the State of The Union speech.”

She couldn’t help but laugh. He was practically begging, his deep blue eyes turning puppy dog as he looked at her hopefully. “Okay.”

Sam switched on the TV and jumped onto the bed. “All Toby would tell me was that the internals were good, and I want to see if they’re better than CNN/Today.”

“It’s okay, I’m convinced. Hand me the hotel guide, I want to see what we can do the rest of the week.”

He handed her the folder, his eyes never leaving the screen and for the next ten minutes he was totally engrossed in CJ and the Press Room. When the briefing ended, Sam turned off the television and rolled over to face Ellie.

She lay sound asleep beside him, curled up in a ball with a contented smile on her face.

Gently he brushed a stray strand of hair from her face and picked up the discarded folder before climbing off the bed and moving to the couch. For the next hour he scanned the booklet and made the necessary phone calls for the next day.

******

Sam climbed out of bed and started the coffee maker as Ellie lay back on the bed and groaned.

“I need more sleep.“

“You’ll feel better after a shower and some coffee,“ he said, leaning over and kissing her on the forehead. She had slept most of the previous afternoon and after a late dinner they had cuddled up in bed watching one of the movie channels. It was midnight when they went to sleep, not that late, but then she worked long hours. “Besides I have a nice relaxing day planned.“

“Oh?“ she asked, sitting up and pulling the sheet around her naked body.

“Yeah.“ His lips twitched up into a smile. “I find women like it when I take control.“

“Really?“

“Well not so much, but you can’t fault a guy for trying. . .oh, you can,“ he mumbled seeing her eyebrows rise in torment.

Ellie pulled her hair over her shoulder and toyed with the ends as she watched him pad naked around the suite. “So tell me your plan.”

Sam opened the doors to the balcony and hovered in the doorway. “Breakfast in the private lounge then you’re booked in for a facial and a manicure while I use the gym. The Amadeus Spa also does a couples massage, which is not, in the least, kinky so you can stop grinning like that.”

“You do realize that the people in the room across there can see everything.”

Sam picked up his robe and pulled it quickly around him. “Thanks.”

She shrugged and motioned to the coffee pot. “Then what?”

As he poured two cups of coffee and added cream he continued to describe his plans for the day, lunch followed by a swim and a private Jacuzzi.

“And tonight?” Ellie asked, finally climbing out of bed and crossing to him.

“Dinner, your choice,” he said, handing her a cup of coffee and walking into the bedroom.

******

The day had been spent exactly as Sam had planned. He felt rejuvenated and alive, the months of stress and long hours working their way out of his system.

Ellie was napping on the bed, the activity and aromatherapy making her more relaxed than he had seen her in days. Although she was enjoying her work as a resident, the shifts and long hours were taking some getting used to and had left her with an unsettled body clock.

Sam left her on the bed and made his way out onto the balcony to stare at the view. It was so serene. In Baltimore there were people everywhere, here it was quiet, the few guests that were in the hotel grounds there to relax too.

When he’d left the White House, everyone had expected him to run for office, even the President. Instead he had taken up the offer of a partnership in a law firm in Baltimore. Returning to corporate law had been a major upheaval but being able to see Ellie whenever he wanted was great. In the year they had been living together he had fallen more in love with her than he had ever imagined possible. They had a simple life, work and each other with the occasional weekend at her father’s but it was all he wanted. Of course he missed his friends and the way the White House made him feel, but it had taken meeting Ellie for him to realize what he really wanted in life. In time he planned to ask her to marry him, if her father would agree, and he wanted to start a family. Every time he looked at pictures of Toby’s triplets he saw his own children, red headed little girls and dark haired little boys. He sighed and glanced back at a sleeping Ellie.

She had wanted to go out for dinner but as he watched her sleep he decided he didn’t want to share her with the rest of the world. Heading back inside he phoned room service and ordered dinner. They would spend the rest of the evening in bed, eating pizza and watching Wednesday night TV. That was just how he wanted to spend the rest of his life.

******

After an early breakfast, well early by Ellie’s standard, Sam brought the car around to the front of the building and waited for Ellie to join him.

The agents exited the building with her and jumped into the trailing vehicle.

“Don’t you think it would have been better to visit the vineyards later? It’s too early to be tasting the wines,” Ellie grumbled, leaning back in her seat and closing her eyes.

“We’re not visiting the vineyards,” Sam corrected, lowering the roof and putting the car in drive. “You did bring your sweater? It might get a bit cold.”

Ellie opened one eye and studied him cautiously. “Cold?”

Sam grinned to himself and concentrated on the road, turning off three miles down the road and pulling into a field.

“I’m not picking grapes,” Ellie stated. “My father used to send us on working vacations as kids. Then there was the farm.”

“We’re not picking grapes.” He pointed to the large red balloon in the middle of the field. “We’re going up in that.”

“SAM!” She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him over and over again on the cheek.

“I guess I did right.” He walked around to the passenger side of the car and helped her onto the grass. “Come on.”

The pilot helped them both into the basket and began to fill the balloon with air as the agents gathered around the balloon.

They weren’t really sure what to do next. There wasn’t room for them in the basket and it was going to be impossible to follow the balloon across the countryside. Dan, Ellie’s lead agent, went off to make a phone call and came back a few minutes later. After a heated discussion with Ron, they had agreed to drive to the landing site and wait.

The balloon released its tethers and started to ascend into the sky.

Sam wrapped his arms around Ellie’s waist and pulled her close against his chest. He hoped the trip was going to sweep her off her feet. Other than gifts and the occasional dinner out, he found it hard to be romantic. He hoped this would show her how much he really did love her.

After a few minutes the pilot started to narrate the sights.

Sam held Ellie tightly and watched as they flew over the vineyards and parks, marvelling at the smallness of everything.

Ellie couldn’t believe it. Sam had organised a balloon flight. The view was breath taking and he was holding onto her like she was the most important thing in the world to him. If actions spoke louder than words then Sam was telling her all her instincts were right.

“Sam?“ she shouted, her breath catching on the air.

“Baby?“

“I love you.“

“I love you, too, baby.”

She took a deep breath. “So marry me?”

The pilot stopped talking as Sam released his hold on her waist. “What did you just say?”

Very slowly, she turned to face him, “I asked you to marry me, Sam.”

“Oh, that’s funny because I thought you just said. . .you did. . .you want to get married?” His eyes widened and he forgot all about the view and the fact they were in the air.

“So, what do you think? We could. . .,” she hesitated. “Say. . .drop by the Hans Fahden Winery tomorrow, meet the minister and pick up the licence and marry the day after.” Ellie dropped her head, pulling her hair across her face as she nibbled her bottom lip.

“Eleanor, are you trying to tell me we’re eloping?“ Sam asked, pushing her hair off of her face and ducking his head to look at her. “You’ve booked a wedding?“

“Bad idea, huh?“

“Well, I. . .I don’t know what to say,” he stammered, his mind racing.

Married. Eloping. Her father. It was probably the craziest thing he had ever done. Well, bar the call girl, sleeping with Ellie for the first time under her father’s roof, and giving up his law career to join the campaign. Then again, none of those had turned out too badly.

Ellie shook her head and gave him a weak smile. “Well, generally the question requires a yes or no answer.”

Sam looked down at the ground and back at Ellie. Something Leo had once said came flooding back to him. ‘Act as if ye have faith, and faith shall be given to you.’ He loved Ellie, he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, he just hadn’t planned to do it quite so soon. Then again there wasn’t really any reason to wait. Taking a deep breath, he cupped her face in his hands. It was going to work. “Ellie, the answer’s yes.”

Her smile widened and she gazed up at him with a mixture of surprise and adoration. “Yes?”

The kiss that followed was deep and passionate causing the pilot to look away.

When they broke for air, Sam furrowed his brow. “So what do we need to do now?”

“Enjoy the ride.”

Sam turned her in his arms and pulled her back to his chest. They were getting married tomorrow and he couldn’t help but smile. The rest of the balloon ride went by in a haze as he half listened to the commentary and thought about the things he needed to do before the wedding.

The balloon finally landed an hour later and the couple stepped off the balloon and into the protection of the detail. While the agents formed a perimeter around the couple, Sam and Ellie sat down to a Champagne brunch surrounded by the lush vineyards and rose bushes.

Sam held Ellie’s hand across the table, his eyes never leaving her face as he lifted his champagne glass to hers and blew her a kiss.

******

The morning came warm and sunny as Sam and Ellie prepared to drive out to the winery and meet the minister.

As they pulled up at the main gate, they were met by a middle aged woman.

“Welcome to the winery,” she said, guiding them along a path and into the gardens.

“This is a beautiful place,” Ellie offered, holding Sam’s hand tightly.

“The present owner’s grandfather purchased the land in 1912. During the Prohibition and the Great Depression the land was left to waste. The present owners spent twenty years restoring the grounds and developing the vineyards. The winery itself was founded in 1986.”

Sam grinned at Ellie and shook his head.

The guide raised an eyebrow.

“Sorry, my father is a bit of a trivia nut.”

“We have a booklet detailing the history if you’d like one.”

“Yeah, you could scribble, ‘Dad, we got married here’ on the back and mail it to him,” Sam whispered against Ellie’s ear.

“We now produce 2000 cases of cabernet sauvignon a year,” the woman continued.

“Well, we know what to buy CJ,” Sam chortled. “And your mother.”

“Hey, I don’t like what you’re implying there, my friend. First you’re asking if she’s a lesbian and now suggesting she likes her drink,” Ellie hissed.

“I like your mother, she just scares the crap outta me,” he said, shrugging.

“Yeah, well, now you know what you’ve got to look forward to,” Ellie smirked turning her attention back to the woman as she began to describe the locations where they could get married.

“The cave?” they both asked together.

“The Fahdens carved it when they founded the winery. Many couples find it romantic and it’s very private,” she offered.

“The cave it is, then,” Ellie agreed.

“I’ll take you to meet the minister. He’ll go through the service with you, discuss vows and then go with you to pick up the licence,” the woman announced, giving them a reassuring smile. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

******

Sam pulled up outside the hotel and left the engine running.

“Aren’t you coming in?” Ellie asked, with one foot on the pavement.

Sam gave her a big grin and shook his head. “I just need to run a coupla errands. I’ll be an hour max.”

“Want me to come?”

“Nope, you go and relax by the pool, have a nap.”

“Okay,” she blew him a kiss and headed into the hotel.

Sam sped out of the drive and headed in the direction they had just come. He had decided that he needed to buy a ring, actually two and he knew exactly what she would like.

******

Ellie climbed out of bed and began to pace the length of the suite. She was a bundle of nervous energy which wasn’t helped by the fact Sam was sleeping soundly beside her. He, it seemed, had no doubts about getting married, signing his life away. Ellie inwardly groaned and located her cell.

“Hello,” came a voice laced with sleep.

“It’s Ellie.”

“Ellie, it’s the middle of the night,” Georgia whined, reaching for the light switch and sitting up in bed. “I’m on in three hours.”

Ellie sank into the couch and tucked her legs under her body. “Sorry,” she muttered. “I couldn’t sleep.”

“Shouldn’t you, under the circumstances, be having lots of sex.”

“Sam’s asleep.”

Georgia rolled her eyes and pulled the covers up around her body. “Okay, honey, I’m awake, what’s up?”

“Are you sitting down? Because this is a doozie,” Ellie laughed.

“If he’s gotten you up knocked up, can I be godmother, because, you know, I’d be rather good at that?” Georgia started to laugh at the whole idea of Ellie pregnant, telling her father.

“No, this is one time I’m going to be traditional,” Ellie offered, taking a deep breath. “Sam and I are getting married, today.”

“You’re kidding me,” the southern doctor squealed, jumping out of bed and sitting back down. “Wow, Ellie. Does daddy dearest know?”

“I still have my liberty and Sam’s not currently on a airforce jet to Siberia, so, no.”

Georgia shook her head, her features softening to that of concern. “You love him, hell who wouldn’t, he’s a hunk. You’ve been living together for a year. What’s the problem?”

“There isn’t one! I don’t doubt my feelings for him, or the life we could have. And my parents love him, they might hide it well, but they approve of me dating him. According to my father, Sam makes me more amenable.”

“So?”

“What if he wakes up in a few hours and realizes I’m not what he wants? He says he loves me, and that I’m everything he could want but. . .,” she sighed. “Look at Mallory, she’s mature and sexy, and then there was Ainsley, well nothing happened there, but he fancied her.”

“You’re paranoid.”

“It’s a family thing.”

“Have you considered the possibility that he has been looking for someone like you all his life?” Georgia pursed her lips. “Ellie, he quit his job to be with you here. He could have stayed with your father and dated someone else, he chose you. And he’s put up with your father at every holiday since you guys got together, that in itself qualifies him for sainthood.”

“True.”

“I think you’re worrying about nothing. Have a little faith, in yourself and in Sam. If I was you, and hell I’d kill to be you, I’d go back to bed and start thinking about the life you guys will have together.”

“Thanks, Georgia.”

“You’re welcome. Goodnight,” she grumbled, returning the phone to it’s cradle and snuggling back under the covers.

Ellie switched off her cell phone and walked back to the bed, pulling back the comforter and wrapping herself around Sam.

He mumbled something about cold feet in his sleep and pulled her arm tighter around his waist.

******

Sam pulled up at the vineyard and opened the driver’s door. It was, he had to agree, the perfect location for a wedding. Whether Josh would ever forgive him for not letting him be best man was another matter altogether.

Opening the passenger door, he extended his hand to Ellie and helped her onto the gravel drive. She looked stunning in the deep red pant suit, her hair hanging in curls across her shoulders, reminding him in many ways of her mother.

“Ready?” he asked softly.

“Yes.”

“And your father? Your mother?”

“They have Zoey. She can do the big white wedding thing. This is what I want, Sam. To marry you, today, here.”

“Then I guess this is it.” He slipped his hand into his right pocket and pulled out a simple blue box. “You’d better have this.”

Her fingers trembled as she lifted the lid and caught sight of the classic sapphire setting. “Sam, it’s beautiful.”

Taking her hand in his, he slipped the ring onto her right hand and grinned. “Now we can get married.”

They walked up the path and were greeted by the minister‘s wife, who led them through the gardens towards the wine caves.

It wasn’t at all what Sam had expected. He had envisioned eerie and damp, but private and unobtrusive. Instead he found himself entering a well lit cave, the hundreds of candles casting shadows along the walls, guiding the way into the deep cavern below ground.

Ellie let out a gasp as they reached the main cave and she caught sight of the minister standing amidst the candles and the oak barrels. The cavern was larger than she had expected but the echo gave the room a spiritual feel. She had wanted a simple wedding, which of course her father would never have allowed her. He would have wanted the big white traditional ceremony in his local cathedral. This, instead was perfect, her and Sam and not a meringue in sight.

The service itself took twenty minutes as they recited the vows they had chosen themselves the day before, the only other people present, the minister, his wife and the photographer.

Ellie’s eyes filled with tears as Sam slipped the simple gold band onto her finger.

As the minister pronounced them husband and wife, Ellie locked eyes with Sam, the first tears trickling down her cheeks as she looked at the man she had been in love with since the first day she had met him. Gently she leaned in and brushed his lips with her own.

“I love you, Ellie,” he whispered, squeezing her hand and deepening the kiss.

“Love you too,” she mumbled against his lips.

After they had pulled apart, their hands still firmly entwined, the photographer began to snap pictures. He led them out of the cave and into the vineyards, pausing to take photos in the prettiest of locations, under the arbor, alongside the ponds and in the rose garden, before finally leaving them alone.

The silence was engulfing, the feeling that they were the only two people in the world.

The woman from the day before brought them each a glass of wine then left them alone again.

It was a new start for both of them, a chance to put the past behind them and start over. There would be time later to share the news with their friends but for a brief while at least, they wanted to enjoy the serenity of the gardens and each other.

******

Here they were, married, which officially meant they were now on their honeymoon.

A phone rang breaking Sam’s reverie.

“Do you want me to get it?” Sam called, reaching for her cell phone on the bedside table where she had discarded it the night before.

“Who is it?”

“Ah, it says Oval,” Sam relayed, placing two feet on the floor and opening the phone. “Hello.”

“Sam?”

“Yes, Sir,” he mumbled, glancing up as Ellie’s head appeared around the door frame, toothbrush in hand.

“Is my daughter there?” Jed asked.

They had living together for nearly a year. Sam had taken the job in Baltimore to be close to Ellie and she had given up her apartment in favor of a waterfront townhouse with Sam. Her father had been unimpressed by the idea of his daughter living in sin, or at least that was his voiced opinion. Ellie suspected that he was more upset that Sam had left him for her.

Ellie shook her head even before Sam offered her the phone.

“She’s in the bathroom, Sir.”

“Tell her I would like to see her at her earliest convenience, “Jed snapped.

Sam covered the phone with his hand and looked up at Ellie. “He wants to see you. What did you do now?”

“Nothing.” She snatched the phone. “Hey, Dad.”

“Eleanor. I’d like you to be in DC tonight.”

“I think he knows,” she mouthed. “It’s not that easy. Sam and I are on vacation in California.”

“Then get on a plane and get here.” He sighed. “And bring Sam.”

“Yeah, okay.” She dropped the cell phone onto the table.

“End of the honeymoon?”

“Nah, he can wait a few days,” she offered nonchalantly, pushing him back onto the bed.

The End