It was raining again, for some reason it was pretty much all it had been doing for three days solid. Leo was in Indianapolis, making forty grand a pop, as Margaret liked to point out frequently. The lecture had gone well yesterday, and the dinner the night before had definitely cured his insomnia. Now he was faced with a meeting with the local Democratic Party, and after that dinner with a woman from some lobby group. It was the same everywhere he went, endless questions about working in the Bartlet White House, congressional hearings and where the former staff were now. The latter was the most difficult to answer, he wasn’t in any one place long enough to keep in touch and the news he did have came down via Abbey or Margaret. Pulling on his jacket he grabbed his briefcase and umbrella and headed out into the rain. Three hours later he was shaking hands with the state chairman and promising to see him at the convention. This had become his life since Bartlet had retired two years ago, and now more than ever it bored him.

The restaurant was only two blocks from headquarters and he battled through the crowds of people heading home, fighting the impending storm. Why anyone would choose a Chinese for a meeting he would never know but her assistant had been insistent. Opening the door he scanned the room of early evening diners and failed to recognise anyone.

“Can I help?” a delicate young woman asked.

Grinning he focused his attention on her, “You have a table booked in the name of McGarry.”

“Of course, the lady is waiting,” she said, taking his coat and heading across the room. Stepping behind a screen she waited and he joined her.

He was stopped in his tracks as he caught sight of her. It had been two years, since that last day in office when she had said goodbye. And he had let her go, too blind to realise that she needed him to ask her to stay.

“You look as good as ever Leo,” she said, stepping forward to embrace him.

He hesitated and she extended her hand. He took it and shook it firmly.

“How have you been?” he asked huskily.

“I’m fine,” she stated grimly. “Busy. And you have been pretty busy yourself, so I’ve heard.”

He noted a slight edge to her voice when she spoke but it had been so long since he had seen her maybe he was writing things into it.

“Margaret’s worried I’ll collapse in the middle of a lecture if I don’t take a break soon,” he chuckled.

“Margaret always worried about everything where you were concerned,” CJ said flippantly. “How is she?”

Leo shook his head, “Margaret is Margaret, being married hasn’t changed that. Jack is so in awe of her he’s putty in her hands.”

“I didn’t know she was married.”

“Eighteen months. Between him and managing my schedule she’s kept occupied.”

“I’m sorry about you and Jenny, I know how important it was for you to try again,” she said softly.

“Abbey has certainly been keeping you informed,” he said glibly. “Jenny and I should never have tried again.”

The waiter appeared and after a minute of scanning the menu they put their orders in and he left again.

“Are you seeing anyone?” Leo asked, fingering the napkin.

CJ’s laugh broke the discomfort of the moment, “You’re as bad as Abbey, you know that.”

At the look of surprise on his face she shook her head, “Abbey keeps asking me when I’m getting married, when I’m going to visit, if I need money.”

“You’re family, she just wants to be sure you are okay,” he stated.

“I know. But Leo I’m director of an Aid organisation, I made 400 thousand last year and I don’t have enough hours in the day to date.” She stopped and grinned; “Besides I’m not sure what to do anymore.”

“You and me both,” he muttered gruffly. Glancing around the room he turned back to her, “So was this meeting a rouse to see me or did you need my help?”

CJ chuckled, “A little of both. It’s been too long and you aren’t easy to track down.” Her hands began to wave about as she pondered exactly what to say.

“CJ?”

“I’m going overseas Leo,” she said softly.

“Oh, it was that bad seeing me again?” he teased.

“Idiot. It’s for six weeks on behalf of the agency,” she informed him. “I fly to Qumar as an outside observer, gather information and when I get back I can work on increasing support for those women. Nothing’s changed Leo, they get raped and beaten and murdered while we stand and watch.”

Leo reached over and covered her hand as her eyes filled up, “I know. Is it safe for you?”

CJ lowered her eyes, “As safe as it can be, I have three men travelling with me. One poses as my husband, we travel everywhere together.”

“What can I do?” Leo asked lightly rubbing her knuckles with his thumb.

CJ lifted her face and tried to read him, “Leo, I need you to take care of my daughter.”

The food arrived before Leo had chance to react and he sat in silence staring at the stark white tablecloth as the girl dished up. His first thought when she had said the words was how beautiful a child she must be; the second was why no one had mentioned it before now. The girl left and he watched as CJ toyed with her food.

“What’s her name?”

“Anna,” CJ said, smiling.

“I didn’t know,” Leo muttered, shaking his head, “No one told me.”

CJ took a sip of her water, “Only Carol and Toby know.”

Leo’s eyes widened, “Are you telling me Abbey doesn’t know you have a child?”

CJ grinned, “Yeah, that’s one secret I’ve managed to keep well.”

Leo picked at his food, “Why do you need me to take care of Anna?”

This was the thing she was most afraid of, questions she didn’t want to answer. It was Toby’s fault; if he hadn’t refused to babysit she wouldn’t be having this conversation.

Taking a deep breath she said, “There aren’t many people I’d trust with her, Leo. Toby and Carol have their own family to take care of.”

“And the father?” he asked softly.

CJ sighed and tried to deflect the question, “It’s just…Anna and me.”

Leo tried to catch her eye but she was avoiding him.

“I’m not good with babies,” Leo groaned, “It’s been twenty eight years since Mal. And Anna, well she won’t know me.”

CJ took a deep breath and a large sip of her drink, “She’s not a baby. Leo, she’s eighteen months old.” She reached into her purse and pulled out a photograph. “This is my daughter.”

Leo took the picture and held it to the light. A rather chubby toddler stared back at him. He glanced up at CJ and back at the photo, the sandy hair and cheeky grin all too familiar.

“CJ?” he stammered when he regained the power of speech.

CJ pushed her plate away and looked directly at him, nibbling her bottom lip.

Leo glanced back to the photo and swallowed, “Is she mine?” he asked softly.

The nod was imperceptible, as she prepared to tell him the truth.

“I have a daughter and you didn’t think to tell me,” he shouted, his voice ragged. “She’s eighteen months old…you knew before we left the White House.”

CJ glanced around the restaurant as people turned to stare at them and lowered her head to her hands as he continued to rant.

“And now it’s convenient you want me to be part of her life,” Leo paused and lowered his voice, “Just what gives you the right?”

CJ sighed and when she spoke her voice was barely audible, “Leo.”

“Don’t,” he snapped, “Just don’t CJ.”

“Let’s go somewhere private and talk, I’ll explain everything,” she coaxed reaching for his hand, only for him to snatch it away. Waving her hand to gain the waitresses’ attention she motioned for the bill. “Leo, please, don’t be like this. We both had our reasons for what we did.”

He continued to ignore her, staring into the eyes of his daughter intently.

CJ watched him and a part of her broke in two, just like it had a little over two years ago when he had walked out of her apartment for the last time.

“Do you want to meet her?” CJ asked, handing over her credit card and signing the slip.

Leo glanced up, his eyes misted over, a coolness reflected back at her that she had never seen before.

“Now?” he croaked.

CJ nodded and stood, “We can get a cab back to the house, knowing Anna she’s driving Jessy mad.”

Leo stood somewhat shakily and pocketed the picture. Gathering his belongings from beside the door he followed her back out into the rain and waited while she hailed a cab. The cab ride was silent as they drove out of the centre into the suburbs and pulled up outside a small townhouse.

Leo followed her up the path to the front door and hovered behind her as she opened the door a fraction and called out.

“Jessy?”

There was no answer and she pushed open the door fully to reveal the hallway, cluttered with toys, the walls covered in photographs, most of which he recognised. CJ stepped over the mess and looked over her shoulder,

“I swear I’ve only got one child,” she grinned. “Every night I clear this lot, every night it’s back. Jessy?”

A petite brunette appeared in the doorway, her arms full of stuffed animals.

“Hey, I didn’t expect you yet.”

Her eyes wandered to Leo and she turned back to wink at CJ.

CJ shook her head, “Where’s madam?”

Jessy grinned and called out, “Anna, Mommy’s home.”

They all waited and seconds later a chocolate covered face appeared followed by the rest of her tiny body. “Mommy.” The child threw herself at CJ and she had to crouch to catch her. Tiny hands wrapped themselves around CJ’s neck and she rubbed her face in the silk blouse.

“I gave up buying designer suits,” CJ grinned, “Jessy, you can go, I’ll settle up at the end of the week.”

“You sure, what about the mess?” Jessy asked reaching for her cell.

“I’ll get around to it,” she lowered the child to the floor. “Say goodnight to Jessy.”

The farewell over, Anna turned to Leo and pointed.

CJ glanced at Leo, staring completely absorbed at what she imagined was a mini version of him. She tried unsuccessfully to catch his eye before shrugging.

“This is Leo, he’s a friend of Mommy’s,” CJ said softly.

Anna climbed over the muddle and tugged at his trousers. When at first he just glanced down she tugged harder and pointed to the ceiling.

“She wants you to pick her up,” CJ informed him.

Leo shot her a look that said ‘I’m not stupid.’

“You want Leo to carry you up and we’re put you to bed?” CJ asked, bending to ruffle the child’s hair. “Maybe if you’re really good, he’ll read you a story.”

Anna gazed up at him as if he was a giant bar of Hershey’s and his heart gave up.

“Okay kid,” he muttered lovingly, “Lead the way.” Picking her up he started on the stairs as CJ watched, thoughtfully. Stepping amongst the mess and once again cursing Toby for his generosity, in regard to toys, she followed them up.

“You can’t miss her room, it’s the one that resembles the inside of FAO Schwarz,” CJ whispered, pulling faces at her daughter.

Leo reached the landing and glanced in both directions, catching sight of a large Winnie the Pooh he walked that way. Inside the room he stopped and stood open mouthed.

“What’d I tell you?” CJ laughed, opening a door, grabbing a wet wipe and rubbing the remnants of chocolate off Anna’s face. Pulling back the comforter CJ turned on a small lamp and searched the bookcase. “Sleeping Beauty?”

Anna shook her head in disgust.

“Cinderella?” Another shake.

“Princess and the Pea?”

Anna nodded and pointed Leo to the bed.

“Well that’s one thing she gets from you,” he muttered, laying her down and pulling the cover up over her, “She knows what she wants and she’s bossy.”

“She’s also grumpy, stubborn and a handful,” CJ retorted, blushing.

Leo raised an eyebrow and grabbed the book. “So you give your mom grief, do ya?”

Anna grinned and ducked her head under the covers.

Leo glanced at CJ and smiled, “At least she’s honest.” He lowered his voice, “Why don’t you clean up and I’ll read to her.”

“You sure?”

He nodded affirmatively and began to turn the pages.

CJ leaned over and planted a light kiss on Anna’s forehead before walking back out of the room. At the door she turned and smiled as Leo stretched out on the bed and pointed to the pictures.

Twenty minutes later he appeared back downstairs and marvelled at how clean the floor was. Crossing from the hallway he entered the living room with its cosy chintz and minimal furniture. CJ appeared in the doorway from the dining room.

“I gave up on furniture when she started crawling, she was somewhat of a klutz,” CJ announced placing a tray of coffee on the coffee table.

“And yet she’s never met Jed,” he grinned.

Sliding into the couch CJ poured the coffee, “You can sit, you know.”

“I’d prefer to stand,” he growled.

“Okay.”

“So what was she like as a baby?” he asked staring at a photo on the wall.

CJ laughed, “A twenty hour labour, Carol with a broken finger and Toby with insomnia for a week with caffeine overload.” Sipping her coffee she paused then added, “She was a contented baby. Sleeping six hours straight and I had her bottle feeding at two months.”

“Toby was there for the delivery?”

“Not in the labour ward, I drew the line and had Carol hold my hand. Toby did the pacing.”

“How do you manage?” Leo asked picking up a picture of Anna with Toby’s youngest. “Jessy aside.”

“A good babysitter, working from home and not taking on more than I can fit in,” CJ explained. “Until now.”

“Maybe I should go,” Leo muttered walking across the room.

CJ stood and reached him before he could slip into his coat. “I thought you wanted answers,” she reminded him.”

“The only reason you’re telling me about her now is because you need me,” he snapped.

CJ groaned and rubbed her head where the headache was forming, “Please just sit down, Leo.” She staggered back to the chair and lowered her head to her hands.

Leo followed and lightly laid a hand on her back, “Headache?” She nodded. “Pills?”

“In my purse.”

Leo disappeared into the hallway and came back with the Advil. He opened various cupboard doors in the kitchen until he found a glass and brought her water. Handing her pills he waited as she swallowed each pill and sipped at the glass.

“You should eat something,” he instructed. “You picked at dinner.”

CJ lifted her head to raise an eyebrow, “You can’t cook, remember?”

“I can make a sandwich,” he said proudly.

CJ laughed in spite of everything. This was the Leo she had fallen in love with, the same person she envisioned spending the rest of her life with.

“I’ll prove it,” he said, striding off through her house.

CJ heard more banging and clattering and headed in that direction. Leo had possibly every jar of mustard and pickle she owned laid on the counter.

“How much time do you spend with the Bartlets?” CJ teased.

“UH?” he said looking around, “Oh, I wasn’t sure which one.”

“I’ve missed this,” CJ said softly.

Leo spun around, “Why’d it take you so long to get in touch with me?”

CJ climbed up on the counter and swung her legs, “You were with Jenny, I knew how much that meant to you.”

“Two years CJ?” he questioned.

“I only found out two months ago,” CJ snapped.

Leo went wide-eyed, “Hang on, you still thought Jenny and I were…two months…. No one told you?”

CJ shook her head and grabbed the sandwich. “Appmmmumm, noone mmmht,” she stopped and swallowed, “Apparently no one thought to tell me.”

“But Toby? Abbey?”

“It was actually Nancy McNally who told me. We were at a conference in New York and she asked how everyone was and somewhere in the middle of it she told me.” CJ took another bite of the sandwich and offered the rest to Leo, he declined and started to make his own.

This was how it had been in her apartment those few months they were together, sitting, chatting and watching movies. And lots of sex.

“Would you have told me sooner if you had known?” Leo asked after a long silence.

“Yes.”

“What difference would it have made?” He asked conscious of what he was really asking.

CJ let the question hang before answering. “You wanted to be with Jenny, so you ended it. I found out I was pregnant shortly after you got together. I had no right to destroy that. Anna has never gone without.” She took a deep breath, “If I’d known there would have been no reason for you not to see her.”

“Wasn’t that my decision to make?”

CJ shrugged.

“Were you just gonna avoid me for the rest of your life?” Leo growled.

“Sooner or later Abbey would have found out and then I would have come looking.”

Sandwiches eaten they moved back into the living room and the untouched coffee. CJ once more flopped onto the couch and Leo took the armchair.

“Ya know, you could have looked for me,” CJ said after a few minutes of silence. “I have a cell, email.”

Leo leaned back into the chair, “You made it pretty final when you left that day.”

**********************************************************************************************

Margaret had been there since six that morning he knew packing up his belongings and stacking files for him to check. Now she was going through his desk drawer, and binning the post it notes he had kept over the years. Leo had purposely moved to the coffee table to read and say goodbye to the guys. The secretaries had descended on him around ten with muffins and coffee and it had been a way too emotional moment for him. Toby had stayed for a few minutes, said a few words and shook his hand before retreating. Josh and Sam had just left, gibbering on like idiots and promising to keep in touch. The news that they were going out on the town for one last celebration did nothing to quash the fear in his stomach. Look out Hawaii was all he could say, a month of the Hardy boys and it would be seeking independence. The only person who had yet to visit was CJ. It had been a week since he had ended their brief liaison and in the few short days she had remained aloof but as ever professional. He knew from the others that she had been crying and everyone assumed it was because she was leaving a job she loved. He also knew that there were no end of job offers for her. Margaret cleared her throat and he glanced up from the page he had been reading to find CJ in the door.

“I’ll go and grab a coffee,” Margaret mumbled, smiling at CJ and closing the door behind her.

Leo watched as CJ leaned against the conference table, her hands together in her lap.

“So this is it,” he said, removing his glasses, “Tomorrow this is no longer my office.”

“Yeah, seems weird, doesn’t it,” she agreed.

“Ya all packed up?” he asked.

“Uh-huh. Carol is just shredding memos and getting drunk, I think.”

“You not joining her?” he asked stacking files and sticking post its on them. “DC is going to be pretty busy tonight.”

CJ sighed, “Don’t feel much like drinking. How’s Jenny?”

It was Leo’s turn to groan, “She’s fine, we’re having dinner to celebrate,” he grumbled, “She now has me all to herself.”

He saw CJ stiffen and stand. “I came to say goodbye, Leo.”

“There’s been a lot of that today,” he grinned, trying to lighten the mood.

“I accepted one of the job offers, I have to go to New York for a couple of weeks then I’ll be busy working. And I guess between Jenny and New Hampshire you’ll be pretty busy too.”

“Seems like it. Might do a few lectures,” he added.

“Well there was always going to be a day when we moved on, started to have a life again. It’s weird that we’ll never all be together again,” she commented dryly.

Leo took a step closer, “You take care of yourself, CJ.”

CJ sighed, “I’ve gotten good at that. Hope everything works out for you,” she whispered wrapping her arms around his neck and enjoying one last moment in his arms. “You deserve to be happy.” Lightly she kissed him on the cheek and turned to leave.

********************************************************************************************

“You broke up with me to go back to your wife, what was I supposed to do?” she snapped.

Leo groaned, “I thought I owed it to her to try again.”

“Yeah, I get that,” CJ snorted. “Just don’t get mad at me for getting on with my life and leaving you to it.”

They sat glaring at each other for a few minutes.

“And if I had told you, what would you have done, Leo?” she asked quietly. “Sent me a check once a month or come back to me?”

He shook his head in consternation, “I don’t know, but having the chance to make that decision would have been nice,” he grumbled.

“And we’re going round in circles,” CJ cried, “You know now so what do we do?” Her fingers rubbed at her neck as she felt the tension deepen.

“How soon before you leave?” Leo asked, standing and moving behind the couch.

“A month, give or take a few days. What’s the lecture schedule like?”

Leo placed a hand on each of her shoulders, “Nothing I can’t cancel.”

As he began to rub at her muscles she settled back and relaxed. “Six weeks shouldn’t make you too far behind.”

“Three months might,” he commented, “I’ll phone Margaret and have her clear the rest of the semester.”

“Really?”

“If it’s okay with you I’d like to stick around for a while, get to know our daughter. And maybe you…” he added under his breath.

“Of course it’s okay.” CJ closed her eyes as he continued to massage her shoulders. It had been so long since he had done that and it still sent shivers down her spine. “If you don’t mind the couch you can stay here.”

Leo shook his head and pressed his fingertips deeper into her back, “I’ll find a hotel near here.”

“That’s stupid Leo,” she groaned. “I’ll take the couch, you have my bed.”

“I can’t do that.”

CJ pulled away from his hands and turned on the couch, “I’m sorry, okay. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Anna sooner. But I’m giving you the chance to get to know her now,” CJ said softly. “I’m inviting you to stay here. Besides if you really want to get to know her she’s at her best first thing.”

“You mean she takes after you before caffeine,” Leo grinned.

CJ hit him across the arm, “Watch it.”

Grabbing her arm Leo’s fingers lingered on her wrist longer than needed. “If I stay do I get breakfast in bed?” he teased.

“You like burnt toast then?”

Leo released her arm and walked around the couch to sit next to her. “We used to have breakfast in bed,” he smirked.

“It didn’t involve food,” she laughed, licking her lips.

“Well not intentionally anyhow.”

CJ moved away and stood up, “I’ll call you a taxi. Which hotel?”

“The Marriott,” he replied.

“I’m working from home tomorrow, why don’t you come by in the morning and we can do something,” she suggested.

“Sure, I’ll bring pastries.”

When he left ten minutes later she squeezed him on the arm gently, and wished him goodnight. Leo climbed into the cab and settled back in his seat, gazing out the window at CJ, stood on the porch.

After an early morning call to Margaret that had her yelling and screaming Leo walked to the bakery at the end of the street and picked up a sack of pastries. He arrived at CJ’s to find the curtains drawn and the house in darkness. Ringing the doorbell he waited, shuffling from foot to foot. Several rings later she opened the door in her robe, her hair dishevelled.

“Hey Leo,” she mumbled, walking back inside.

“Good morning,” he smiled, lifting the bag. “I guess I’m making the coffee.”

“Mm.”

Leo headed into the kitchen and rummaged until he found clean mugs and coffee. A few minutes later CJ appeared carrying a crying toddler. She brushed the hair from her eyes and sat down at the table.

“She doesn’t like to be woken up,” CJ offered by way of explanation. “Her cup’s on the drainer, can you pour her some juice?”

Leo filled the beaker and handed it to Anna, she took it and guzzled the juice down.

“So what do you want to do today?” Leo asked placing two plates on the table and opening the sack.

“Vanilla Danish,” she said lowering Anna to her high chair. “You want a muffin, Munchkin?”

“Yeah, thanks,” Leo said, smirking.

CJ gave him a look and he started chopping up the muffin into small pieces and putting it on her tray.

“Anna likes the park.”

Anna threw a chunk of cake at him and grinned.

“She has your aim,” he commented, turning to CJ, and dusting the crumbs off. Taking the seat next to CJ he lowered his voice and leaned closer, “How do y’wanna play this? Tell her first or get to know her then tell her?”

“Are you ready for this?” she asked, eating the Danish.

Leo glanced at the blonde mop and grinned. She was the spitting image of him as a child and there was certainly no doubt he was the father, not that he thought CJ would lie. He’d already missed too much of her life, and Mal’s for that matter, he wasn’t sure how he was going to handle being father to a toddler but he certainly wanted to try.

“Yeah, can’t promise I’m gonna be great at first.”

CJ patted his arm, “No time like the present.” She lifted Anna out of the chair and settled her on her lap, “Anna, this is your daddy.”

The child jumped up and down on her mother’s knee and giggled.

CJ shrugged, “It may be a while before she understands. You wanna go to the park with daddy?”

“You’re coming too, right?” Leo asked panicking.

“You’re be fine,” CJ whispered, “I’ll finish my correspondence and we can have lunch together.”

Anna bounced some more on her knee before climbing off and tottering to find her toys.

“I’m going to get her ready, finish your coffee,” CJ instructed heading off after her daughter.

When they appeared downstairs shortly after CJ was in jeans and a sweater, looking every bit the mommy while Anna wore a miniature replica of CJ’s jeans and a sweatshirt. CJ opened the closet door and pulled out a stroller. Strapping Anna in she turned the stroller to Leo.

“Have fun guys,” she grinned. Bending down she kissed her daughter on the forehead before fixing the woolly hat. “Here’s her chocolate buttons and my cell number,” she said to Leo, opening the door.

Leo headed in the direction CJ had sent him, smiling as Anna gazed up at him in rapture. CJ’s eyes were trying to read him and for a second his heart skipped a beat as he realised what life could have been like. Anna was pointing in the distance and Leo caught sight of the swings.

“You wanna go?” Leo grinned. “Daddy push you?” He really rather liked the sound of that.

“Boo.”

“Haven’t acquired your mother’s gift of the gab yet, I see.”

“Pooh,” she squealed.

Leo rather hoped she hadn’t. She was pointing and waving and he followed her gloved hands and caught sight of a small child clutching a Disney character.

“Nah, you’ve got him. We’ll get you something else,” he muttered, thinking that maybe he should talk CJ into getting a bigger house.

Anna giggled and started to tug at her restraint.

“Whoa there,” Leo cried, rushing round to stop her. “Daddy do it and then you have to hold my hand.” And all the mothers in the vicinity were going to give him funny looks, a sixty five year old man and a toddler, either that or ask if he was her grandfather. He shrugged as she clasped his hand and pulled him in the direction of the swing.

Lifting her up he slid her in the seat and checked she was secure, the last thing he wanted was to take her home with a scrape. Slowly he pushed her but she jumped up and down encouraging him to go faster. He increased the speed as far as he dared and watched as she waved her hands in the air.

His cell rang and she turned to pull a face. “Okay, daddy won’t be long,” he muttered. “Hello.”

“Leo. It’s Abbey.”

Leo scrunched his forehead before replying. “Hey, something wrong?”

“No, just wanted to check on you,” she said innocently.

“Margaret called you,” he chuckled.

“Boo. Boo,” Anna called.”

Covering the phone with his hand, “I’ll be just a minute, okay.”

“Sorry Abbey, what do you want to know?”

“What’s the family emergency? Can we help? Is it Mal?” Abbey queried.

Leo sighed, “Mallory is fine. Everything is fine, I just need sometime to sort a few things,” he offered.

“Leo, quit holding out,” Abbey snapped, “You don’t quit work without good reason.”

Anna started shifting in the swing and trying to climb out.

“Hey stop that,” he grumbled, slowing the swing and holding on to the child firmly. “Anna, just a minute.”

“Who’s Anna?” Abbey asked.

Leo mentally apologised to CJ. “She’s my daughter.”

“Holy hell!” came the reply.

“Hang on,” Leo said, placing Anna on the ground and taking her hand. “Where now?”

She tugged him as far as the hoppers and he secured her before resuming his conversation.

“I found out last night. Abbey, she’s great,” he grinned, “Not sure how I’m supposed to relate to her yet but CJ assures me I’ll get there.”

“CJ?” Abbey asked motioning to her husband across the room. “You’re with CJ?”

A few minutes later he hung up after telling Abbey everything he knew and promising to get CJ to phone them later.

“Well kiddo, that’s put the cat amongst the pigeons.” Leo crouched down to her level, “So how do you feel about me?”

Anna poked him on the nose.

“Take after your mother on the violence thing too,” he commented. “Shall we go and find mommy?”

Anna held her hands in the air for him to pick her up. Leo took a deep breath as he wandered home, mentally deciding how to tell CJ her secret was out.

CJ sat at the dining table, trying to work her way through the mountain of letters that seemed to magically appear each week. Except she wasn’t really paying attention, so much had happened in twenty four hours that now her world was spinning on it’s axis.

Leo looked good, not that there was ever a time he didn’t look good, even when he woke up he was ruggedly handsome. CJ knew she was blushing but two years hadn’t changed how she had felt about him, why she had taken the risk that night.

********************************************************************************************************

Election night had been spent in the White House. Everyone had been in the Residence awaiting the result. Most people were pretty drunk and Leo kept disappearing to his office to check in with Hoynes’ Campaign Director.

It had been a little after four am when he had run into the room and announced that it was looking like a landslide. Despite the animosity between the two staffs, everyone was happy that the Democrats would hold the White House. In the emotion of the moment Leo had picked her up and spun her around. They had been together secretly for a month but he didn’t seem to care that night.

As the party wound up he had offered to give her a lift home. The driver had dropped them both off at his apartment and he had been on too much of a high that night for her to refuse him anything. His kisses had been deep and passionate, his hands gentle as he roamed her body and discarded her clothes. It was only as he lay her on the bed that she had thought fleetingly of her diaphragm at home in her bathroom. As he kissed her he had told her he loved her, and mumbled his plans for the future. They had made love less carefully than usual and she had fallen asleep in his arms, believing that in the coming months they would go public and start afresh.

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Now he was back in her life, albeit only to meet Anna, and she wasn’t sure how she was supposed to respond to him. One minute he was yelling accusations the next he was massaging her shoulders. There was also the fact she was holding out the truth on him, the true risks that the trip held, the possibility that she could be kidnapped and tortured for what she believed. She knew the risks but deep down she had to go. Too many years ago she had stood on the sidelines. Now was her chance to right that wrong.

The only draw back was leaving her daughter. But now Anna had Leo and, as much as it scared Leo half to death, CJ knew that he would take really good care of her. Of course she was going to come back, but the papers were all order. Leo would gain full custody in the event of her death, and when she came back from Qumar she would sign over joint rights.

She heard the door open and tried to concentrate on the paper in front of her.

“Boo, Boo Hoo?” Leo asked, hoisting Anna in the air.

“Boo, Boo.”

Leo entered the room and grinned, “We had fun.”

“Good,” CJ stated moving to remove the toddler’s outdoor wear, “Swings?”

“And the hoppers. And now she wants Boo,” he offered, raising his hands in surrender.

CJ nodded, “Come on, mommy put the video on.”

Settling the toddler on the couch and pressing play she waited for the video to run before motioning with her head for Leo to follow.

“Boo is from Monsters Inc, her favourite movie. Toby promised to bring her Boo next time he comes to visit. She already has ever other character,” CJ groaned. “How did it go?”

She turned her back to fill the kettle. At his silence she turned, “Was there a problem?”

Leo rubbed the bridge of his nose and counted to ten, “Anna and I got on just fine.” He stopped and took a step closer, “I had a phone call while we were out.” Another pause before he said quietly, “Abbey.”

CJ rolled her eyes, “Please tell me you didn’t.”

“Sorry,” he mumbled, waiting for the storm to erupt.

“I take it she wants me to phone?”

Leo nodded glumly.

“Okay, better get it over with,” she sighed, picking up the phone and dialling the number of the farm.

Abbey answered immediately as if she had been waiting by the phone. A few seconds later CJ sank into a nearby chair and nodded intermittently, answering an endless stream of questions. The change in CJ’s tone was enough of a hint for him to leave.

Anna smiled as he leaned over to kiss her on the forehead, and pointed to the television. “Boo.”

“So that’s Boo,” he chuckled, sitting beside her and waiting as she climbed up in his lap.

Fifteen minutes later CJ entered the room carrying a glass of water and rubbing her temples. She glanced across at the couch to find her daughter sound asleep with her head on her father’s lap and Leo snoring, his head back against the chair.

Leaving them to it she wandered back to work, realising just what it was she had been missing in the past two years.

Leo awoke feeling stiff and unable to move his legs, glancing down he melted at the sight of Anna, thumb in mouth, dreaming. Loathe to move her he reached for the control and switched to CNN.

Noticing the change CJ walked back in and leaned on the back of the couch.

“Good sleep?” she whispered.

“Yeah, she’s beautiful when she’s asleep,” he commented stroking Anna’s hair.

“You wait until we get back from lunch and she’s demolishing the place,” CJ teased. “Want me to move her?”

Leo shook his head, “Nah, I like to watch her.” Like he liked to watch her mother once upon a time. “We made this little person.”

“Yeah, we didn’t do so bad,” she agreed smiling.

Looking up he asked, “How’d it go?”

CJ cringed, “We’re all spending the weekend in Manchester.”

Leo pulled a face, “Jesus. Wanna go to City Hall right now and save ourselves the lecture?” he laughed.

“I told Abbey in no uncertain terms she wasn’t to interfere,” CJ said softly.

“And that’s gonna work when they tag team,” he moaned. “Oh well we’ll handle it when it comes. Where are we going for lunch?”

CJ patted the end of her nose, “It’s a surprise, but you’ll love it.”

Leo raised an eyebrow, knowing full well it was going to be hell.

When Anna finally awoke from her nap, cranky and whiny, Leo handed her back to CJ. A few seconds of whispering later the child was giggling and more than content as CJ dressed her for the cold.

“You wanna drive?” CJ asked, pulling out an overcoat from the closet.

“Sure, has your navigating improved?” he teased.

“That was Donna’s fault, I couldn’t read the name of the road,” CJ pouted. She tossed him her keys and picked up her bag.

The drive to the restaurant took five minutes and Leo’s face fell when he saw the outside with the giant clown.

“Charlie Chalk’s,” CJ said, stifling a grin. “It’s great, kids love it, especially the soft land.”

“Why does it bring back memories of Josh,” he grumbled. “Come on then.”

Lunch was less than restrained as Anna kept climbing out of her chair and disappearing into the ball pools and plastic blocks, Leo on her tail.

CJ sat back and ate her lunch, grinning at the sight of the usually immaculate former Chief of Staff, hanging upside down, trying to catch his daughter.

Eventually Leo gave up and hoisting Anna over his shoulder carried her back to the table.

“Where does she get her energy from?” Leo breathed, strapping her back in the seat and handing her the ice cream spoon.

CJ waggled an eyebrow at him and collapsed into giggles as he blushed.

“I was younger then.”

“Anna’ll keep you young,” CJ pointed out as their daughter threw the first dollop of ice cream over Leo’s suit. He shook his head and she tossed a second.

“ANNA MCGARRY CREGG,” CJ yelled then lowered her voice, “Stop that immediately.”

Leo stared at CJ and back at his daughter as she scrunched up her little face and began to cry.

“It’s okay,” he coed, “Daddy didn’t like the suit anyway. Don’t cry and we can go shopping.”

CJ rolled her eyes, Leo was going to be a pushover, all sense of good behaviour was going out the window.

Anna continued to bawl and Leo looked helplessly at CJ, “You want Boo?”

Anna went quiet and smiled. CJ groaned, and Leo patted his wallet, anticipating an expensive afternoon.

They arrived home two hours later, laden with bags and boxes. Leo waved CJ inside and set about unpacking the car.

When he made the final trip he found Anna sat in the middle of the living room, surrounded by toys and CJ on the phone. Anna looked up when she heard him and waddled over to join him.

“Where are we gonna put all these, kiddo?” he asked.

Anna grinned and started to pull things out of the bags.

Leo groaned and picked her up, carrying her back into the living room.

“Can you just stay there for two minutes?” he groaned, turning to return to the hallway.

Lowering himself to the ground he began to unpack one of the boxes, searching for instructions.

“You’re really going to do that now?” CJ laughed standing in the doorway, arms folded.

“How difficult can it be?”

CJ stifled another laugh and set about picking up discarded toys.

Two hours later Leo was still sat in the hallway, the Little Girl’s Beauty Table still in bits. CJ appeared once more in the doorway, Anna on her hip.

“Keep at it, by the time she’s sixteen it might be finished,” CJ taunted and blinked when he glared at her. “We’re going for a bath, then you can read her a story.”

Leo watched as she climbed the stairs before scratching his head and returning to the instructions.

Twenty minutes later he gave up and ascended the stairs. Both bedrooms were empty so he knocked lightly on the bathroom door and pushed the door open. He flushed pink at the sight before him and back stepped out of the room.

“I’m sorry.”

CJ laughed, despite the blush on her face, “It’s okay. You weren’t to know.”

“When you said we’re having a bath, I assumed you were washing her,” he muttered, pulling the door too.”

“Go and wait in her room, I’ll be there in a second.” She continued to chuckle as she climbed out of the tub and dried them both off.

Leo sat down on the bed and covered his face in his hands. He hadn’t expected to see CJ naked and he was having quite a reaction to it. Trying to focus on anything but her he began to scan the bookcase. In amongst the usual fairytales he found endless atlases and encyclopaedias, and eventually his eyes fell on a scrapbook.

Pulling it out he opened the first page and hastily flicked through the pages, surprised by what he found.

“That’s volume two,” CJ said softly entering the room, “Volume one is downstairs.”

Anna bounded up and climbed on the bed, tugging his shirt.

“You want a story, huh?” he smiled, closing the book.

Anna nodded and stuck her thumb in her mouth.

“I’ll be downstairs,” CJ whispered, blowing her daughter a kiss and plotting how to finish Leo’s assembly effort.

“This is a true story, “Leo began, “about a King and Queen.”