It wasn’t so much that Leo had hated Christmas before; in fact the last few years with the president, Abbey and the girls had been quite entertaining. Christmas reminded him too much of the man he used to be, the man who worked Christmas Eve until late, hit a bar till closing and when the cab dropped him off searched the cupboards for a bottle of something. By Christmas Day he was too hung over to watch Mal open her presents, or fully digest the turkey, instead he would sit morose in front of the news until his daughter climbed the stairs to bed. Only then would he twist the cap off the Jack Daniels and drink into oblivion. When he pulled the muscle in his back six weeks before Christmas the doctor prescribed the painkillers, for two days he stayed off the booze, then he made the miracle discovery, the two combined provided the escape from the world he lived in. By Christmas he could get through the day with the pills and the booze helped him through the night. Christmas was no longer important, Mallory was grown enough to realize Santa didn’t exist, and Jenny had given up in her endless pursuit for the perfect Christmas. Of course there came recovery and with a little help from his friend he found a new way of getting through the day, something he could truly believe in.

This year Leo was looking forward to the holidays. He had politely refused the invite to go to New Hampshire for a Bartlet family Christmas; the traditional Midnight Mass, the traditional party games, the mountains of presents and enough food to feed the entire West Wing. Talking of the West Wing, the staff had definitely gone overboard. Everywhere he looked there were decorations, garlands draped the walls, the tree in the lobby was matched by smaller versions in the Bullpens and the assistants had stayed late one night to ensure each of their bosses offices had lights. The halls were full of Christmas spirit, staff seemed happier this year and bands had been playing in the foyer for days.

This year was going to be different; he had a new wife who was already bouncing through the halls trying to get everyone in the Christmas spirit. They were going to have Christmas in their own home, the town house she had fallen in love with shortly after they married and had waited three months to move into because she wanted it just right. Of course they wouldn’t be alone; Toby had nowhere to go, Josh’s mother disliked Christmas and Margaret couldn’t afford the flight home. So this year they would be the ones to invite the strays in, and with any luck one of them would be able to cook. CJ was mastering the basics but he wasn’t sure if turkey and the trimmings would be a little ambitious.

Leo continued in his quest through the halls, well not so much a quest as avoiding Margaret and her hundreds of Christmas cards and presents. That was the other thing about having a wife, especially one as organised as CJ, she took care of the Christmas stuff leaving him to concentrate on work. Of course if he wasn’t so engrossed in thinking about his wife he wouldn’t have had such a shock as someone grabbed his arm twirling him around and pulling him into an alcove. By the time he realised it was the object of his affections she had him pressed against the wall.

‘CJ, we weren’t going to do this at work.’

She was in the process of planting soft kisses on his cheeks and down his nose and loath to stop her he wrapped his arm around her waist. Minutes later he tried again.

‘CJ, who else is coming for dinner?’

CJ stepped back and peered down over her glasses, ‘Can’t a wife show her husband how much she loves him?’

Leo tipped his head to the side and glared back.

‘Okay, Donna’s a little strapped for cash, I didn’t think you would mind,’ she sighed, her fingers moving down his chest through his shirt.

He wasn’t about to say no but if she carried on like this he would be all hot and flustered and they would have to find an empty room in the basement, again.

‘What’s come over you?’

CJ grinned, her face lighting up as she moved her hands back up to his shoulders, ‘You want to sit down?’

‘No I want an answer.’

‘It’s my hormones. It’s not uncommon in the first few months.’

He continued to look at her blankly.

‘Leo, I’m pregnant.’

He paled significantly before he slid down the wall to her feet.

CJ knelt next to him and yelled, ‘Can someone get the First Lady?’

She started to stroke his cheek and talk to him softly hoping he would be conscious before help arrived. Unfortunately he was still out cold when Abbey arrived.

‘What happened?’ she asked looking pointedly at CJ.

‘He fainted, it’s all the excitement,’ she replied coyly.

Abbey wasn’t buying it but her main priority was to wake him up. After a few seconds of smelling salts and a growing crowd he came round. His eyes darted to his wife and to his best friend’s wife, wondering what the hell just happened.

‘How do you feel Leo? Can you get up?’

Leo tried to move but couldn’t quite get off the ground, it was a long time since he had to be helped but he wasn’t about to refuse Josh and Toby’s offer of assistance. They made it back to his office and installed him on the couch. The President came flying through the doors and stopped when he saw the scene.

‘Okay what happened?’ he asked his wife.

‘He fainted.’

‘You don’t just faint for no reason.’ He looked at his wife, across to Leo and back at CJ. ‘We should send him for tests.’

CJ sighed, there was no way the president was going to let up. She turned her attention to a flustered Margaret, ‘Margaret, be a honey and get Sam, Carol too and then shut the door.’

Margaret disappeared and Leo continued to sit on the couch staring at his wife and for once ignoring the protocol. Everyone stayed silent awaiting the additional staff. Finally they were all there, the three doors closed and a sea of expectant faces.

‘You want to do this or shall I?’ CJ asked her husband.

‘You,’ he grinned, crossing his hands behind his head and leaning back.

‘I generally like my audiences to sit.’ The President sat and the others followed his lead, all eyes focusing on CJ. ‘I wasn’t planning on doing this just yet but it seems I have no choice and with Leo’s reaction I don’t see how we can hide it. I can’t be more specific about details except to say in July there is going to be an addition to the family,’ she waited as they digested the information.

Abbey got there first, ‘Really? That’s wonderful, how long have you known?’ she asked hugging her.

Carol stood and grabbed her as she tried to reply; ‘I did the test a week ago, my OB confirmed today.’

Once Margaret had released her CJ glanced around the room, ‘Okay boys I know I haven’t announced the republicans have emigrated to Vancouver but some response would be appreciated.’

Josh’s jaw dropped and he continued to gaze at her stomach as if he couldn’t actually believe there was something there. Toby was staring at his feet, which meant he wasn’t happy about the news and they would be having words later. Sam was already up and squeezing her, he let go just as suddenly.

‘I’m sorry did I hurt you? Wow this is awesome, our first baby, I have to tell Ginger.’

‘Sam,’ she said firmly, ‘I don’t want it to go out of this room.’ his face fell and prompted her to ask, ‘Unless there something we should know about you and Ginger.’

The eyes all turned from CJ to Sam, who blushed.

‘Uh. I wasn’t going to say anything until after the holidays when I’d made it official but we’ve been together since January.’

‘You and your assistant?’ Toby growled.

‘Technically she’s your assistant, and didn’t you hear CJ’s having a baby.’

‘Yeah, I heard. Good job it’s July she can be back before the next session of congress,’ he muttered.

The President turned to his best friend and shook his hand, ‘You two are just full of surprises. I’m really pleased for you. Didn’t think you had it in you.’

Leo shrugged, ‘All good things come to those that wait and I guess I’ve been waiting long enough.’

The President turned his attention back to the assembled group, ‘I think we should give these two some time alone. CJ, Abbey will be next door if you need her.’

When the others had left Leo turned back to his wife and allowed the grin to cover his face.

‘You’re really pregnant?’

She nodded.

‘I’m sorry about before. It was just so unexpected. It won’t happen again.’

CJ took his hand in hers, ‘Of course it will, when the little head pops out.’

‘We’ll discuss that later, but now…’ He took her face in his hand and leaned in, his kisses gentle and loving. ‘You know I love you,’ he whispered.

‘I love you too.’

‘Have far along?’

It was her turn to grin, ‘she was conceived when I returned from California at the beginning of October, before you flew to Florida.’

Leo contemplated for a second and started to laugh, ‘The President will have a fit when he finds out she was conceived in the basement.’

‘I thought we could keep that to ourselves, ‘CJ replied kissing him, ‘You know with the party tonight I need to get back to work.’

‘Yeah, meet you there.’

As CJ left through Margaret’s office Margaret jumped to her feet and headed purposefully into the room, ‘Now we can get this lot finished.’

Leo groaned, dragging himself up and joining her.

The staff Christmas party was always quite an event, the staff got to let their hair down and the President experienced them as friends. Leo took his time finishing up loose ends. By the time he ventured upstairs the party was in full swing. Josh was looking rather green, bottles lined up in front of him; Sam was sitting on a couch in front of the fire, his arm around Ginger as he whispered in her ear. She giggled back in response. Most of the assistants were on the makeshift dance floor learning the latest dance craze from Zoey. The President was as always to oneside of the room, holding his wife’s hand and watching his staff relax. He had once confessed to Leo that he thought of them as family, he hadn’t had much of a relationship with his father and being someone these people looked up to was important. As Leo scanned the room he realised much the same was true for him, despite their mistakes he loved Sam and Josh as sons and when it was all over he fully intended to ensure their future success. Toby was self-sufficient and despite their obvious difficulties he thought of him as a friend. And Margaret, well Margaret he had provided for, she had given so much of her life for him he thought it only fair to give something back. Yeah, these were the people he wanted to spend Christmas with. Leo scanned the room for his wife and failed to spot her. Abbey motioned with her head and he followed the direction she had indicated, finding himself in the kitchen. CJ’s voice carried from inside and Leo paused, waiting to enter.

‘So what is your problem, exactly? I mean apart from being pissed at the world in general.’

‘CJ,’ Toby warned.

‘No, you jackass, let’s do this now,’ she was getting madder by the minute but Leo knew better than to interfere.

Toby groaned, ‘You can’t just leave things, can you? CJ always has to know everything. My problem is this baby, one minute it’s a pretend marriage, next you tell me it’s for real, now you’re pregnant. Are you sure it’s what you really want?’

CJ stared at him for a second, ‘Is this concern?’

Toby stared at his feet, his voice barely a whisper, ‘Yeah, but let’s not let it get out.’

The tears were streaming down her face before he finished.

‘Now what have I done?’

CJ sobbed, ‘You can be so sweet. Just when I’m about to hit you you overwhelm me.’

‘And for that I get tears,’ he asked handing over a handkerchief.

CJ dabbed at her eyes, ‘That’s the hormones. I know you think it’s sudden and I know you worry but you don’t need to. Leo loves me and I love him. This baby is going to loved.’

Toby pulled her into a hug, hiding the emotions that were displayed openly in his eyes.

‘Claudia, I will always be here.’ Toby pushed her away and raised her eyes to his chest, he placed one hand on his heart and placed the other on top opening them to her, ‘Always.’

CJ pressed two fingers to his lips and smiled, ‘Always.’

Toby coughed and ran his hand across his face, ‘we should get back, your husband will be looking for you.’

Leo backtracked towards the party, and grabbed a glass of water as CJ emerged. She looked happy, in fact blooming was probably the term. She made a beeline for him as soon as she saw him and squeezed his hand. There was no kiss but for anyone watching the small gesture and the look in their eyes said it all.

‘Working late?’

He nodded.

‘What say we slip out of here, go home and celebrate by ourselves?’ the look of desire in her eyes said it all. Leo glanced once around the room and grabbed the nearest person he could find.

‘Donna, Will you make our excuses CJ isn’t feeling well and we’re gonna go home?’

Donna looked at CJ, noted CJ looked anything but sick but promised to relay the message.

The couple were home in less than twenty minutes. CJ slipped out of her work clothes and into a satin slip, curling up on the bed to wait for Leo. He arrived minutes later with a bottle of water, a plate of snacks from the fridge and a box of chocolates. Placing the food on the bed he slipped into his boxers before climbing into bed. They finished their day as they always did picnicking in bed, curled up into each other talking of work. In the first few days as man and wife they had discovered if they got work out of the way they could relax and enjoy each other, if they ignored it it became an issue. Later they would talk of the future, of baby’s names, make love and watch as the first snow of Christmas fell.

The End

Continue to Keeping The Vows

Back to The Chief Of Staff's Office