Completed: October 2002

*~*~*~*

“I warned you,” CJ said, folding her arms across her chest and setting Leo in her sights.

“Good morning to you too, CJ.”

“I said if you hurt her, you’d have me to deal with. So, care to tell me, why, right now she’s sitting in my office bawling her eyes out?”

“What the hell, CJ?” Leo barked, his brow furrowing as her words began to sink in. “She’s crying? In your office?” Leo asked, confusion crossing his features.

CJ nodded, taking a step in his direction.

“Oh.”

“That’s it, just oh?”

Leo’s lips quirked upwards and he lowered himself into his chair. “It’s not what you think.”

CJ raised an eyebrow and shifted position to lean on the conference table.

“I think you’ll find they’re happy tears. At least I hope they’re happy tears,” he continued. “I asked Carol to marry me.”

“Really?”

“Yup. She wanted time to think it over.”

“Okay, then.” She pursed her lips and gestured with her hand. “Do you love her?”

“CJ!”

She gave him a satisfied smirk and turned to leave. “I can see what she means now. You really do look cute when your ears turn pink.”

Leo groaned as his ears turned an even deeper shade of pink.

CJ headed back to her office with a new spring in her step. “Carol, my office,” she demanded, walking through the outer office and holding the door open.

Carol blew her nose and trailed in afterwards, jumping slightly as the door closed behind her.

“So, Leo proposed?”

“He told you?”

CJ gave her a satisfied smile. “Yup. And he had the same expression you have now.”

“Oh.”

“That’s it, Oh? I want details. How, when, where?” She waved her hands through the air and dropped onto the couch.

Carol sat down beside her and wiped her eyes. “It was so romantic, and perfect and you know, Leo.”

“I don’t, but I’m sure, once you tell me, and I want every little detail, I’ll get the idea.”

“Sunday afternoons are our time. We do chores, talk about our week and. . .” She blushed and gave CJ a coy smile.

“Okay, no need to say anymore.”

“Well, he suggested we go for a walk. I disappeared to get changed and when I came out he was on the phone. I thought he was going to say that he had to go into work but he took my hand and we left the apartment.” She paused with this far away look in her eyes. “When we reached the park it was busy, people everywhere, but Leo seemed intent on heading somewhere so we kept walking. Next thing I know we’re in a clearing and two agents are guarding a small table and a flutist.”

“A flutist?”

“Well he wanted a saxophone player but he couldn’t find one. Leo pulled my chair out and the agents disappeared. I mean we were in a park, the sun was shining, the birds were singing and there was the flute. It was. . .”

“Perfect,” CJ smiled. “And?”

“I didn’t know what to say. So I sipped the lemonade and just looked at him. I knew there was something up by the look on his face. He looked nervous and proud and . . . just damned cute.”

“I can’t wait until Abbey finds out about all this,” CJ chuckled, as Carol’s expression turned to blind panic. “It’ll be fine. It’s Leo, she’ll wanna torture.”

Carol nodded, less than certain. “And I’m just tucking into the chocolate cake when he slips his hand into his pocket and pulls out a box. I almost choked, CJ.” She fell silent, her eyes dancing. “I mean we’ve talked about the future and having a family, but I never expected that - I just thought maybe a “will you marry me?” one night as we went to bed.”

“This is Leo we’re talking about, the man who sent Margaret half a florist shop when she gave birth, he was bound to go OTT.”

“Yeah, well, he’s always been generous, despite the constant nagging,” Carol agreed, her smile widening. “And then he started to speak. He told me I made his life complete, that I was beautiful and he didn’t want to spend the rest of his life without me, but it was the way he looked at me, like I was the only person in the world. And the ring - CJ, it’s worth more than I make in a year.”

“He gave you a ring?”

“He showed me the ring, but I wouldn’t take it, not until I’ve made a decision.”

“Like you’re gonna say no, Carol?” CJ groaned.

She sighed and tears pricked at her eyes. “I wanted to say yes, but I couldn’t speak and then the moment was gone and yes just seemed, I don’t know, too understated.”

CJ shook her head and covered her assistant’s hands with her own. “So what’s the ring like?”

“It’s beautiful. A simple gold band with an emerald setting, surrounded in diamonds,” Carol said as her eyes misted over again.

“How are you gonna accept his proposal then?”

Carol started to cry, the tears splashing on her cheeks. “Anything I do will seem so small.”

“I don’t think he’s gonna worry too much about how you do it, as long as you say yes,” CJ grinned. “I may have the answer.”

She widened her grin and leaned in closer to Carol.

******

The apartment was dark and silent when Leo turned his key in the lock and entered. All CJ’s message had said was that Carol had gone home and that he should follow. Which is how he found himself saying goodnight to the President at nine o’clock and having his driver drop him off at her apartment.

Placing his briefcase on the floor and hanging his coat on a hook, he walked through the building, taking note of the dark empty rooms.

The bedroom door was open fractionally, the room illuminated only by candle light. Gingerly, he pushed the door and gasped at the scene before him.

Carol was stretched out across the bed, wearing nothing more than a red wonder bra and French knickers and a very satisfied smile. She gazed up at him as he stepped into the bedroom and tilted her head to one side.

Leo’s eyes were drawn not to the gentle swell of her breasts or her tongue flicking across her lips but the three letters carefully written across her stomach in canned whipped cream.

“Yes?” he stammered, as she breathed and the cream trickled down her side.

“Yes,” she enunciated.

He kicked the door closed behind him and shrugged out of his jacket. “In that case this is yours.” He crossed to the bed and pulled the ring box from his pocket before slipping the ring gently on to her finger. Lifting her hand to his lips, he brushed his lips across her knuckles.

Carol’s arms came up off the bed to wrap around his neck. “I love you.”

“Um,” he mumbled against her mouth as he shed the rest of his clothes. “Better get rid of this,” he grinned, breaking the kiss and lowering his lips to her stomach.

Carol giggled as his tongue flicked across her navel and began to methodically remove the cream. She made a mental note to thank CJ for her suggestion in the morning as Leo’s head moved lower. A very big thank you.

*~*~*~*

It was the first Saturday morning in months that Carol hadn’t been needed in the office and she had taken the opportunity to finally go shopping for her wedding dress.

Mallory and Ginger were across the boutique, searching through a rack of bridesmaids dresses and giggling. The giggling intensified with each ugly dress they pulled from the rack. It had started with a turquoise taffeta fishtail dress and they were now fixated on a bright yellow satin gown covered in tiny yellow bows.

Donna for her part was trying to help Carol into the white full length gown she had fallen in love with the minute she’d arrived.

“You should have the neckline lowered a fraction,” Donna suggested. “Show a little more cleavage.”

“I’m showing quite enough, thank you.”

“Men like cleavage,” Donna stated as the sales assistant began to pin the hem.

Bonnie snorted from the dressing room. “Just because Josh is a breast man, doesn’t mean every guy is.”

Ginger snickered and lifted a silver gown from the rack. “I don’t even wanna know how you know that. So Carol, is Leo a breast man?”

Carol’s face took on a crimson glow and she glanced nervously at Mallory.

“Hey, I’m just glad the addle-minded, Machiavellian jerk has found a woman, “ Mallory grunted. “The fact you want to actually marry him is a bonus. I had visions of him spending the rest of his life living in a hotel and eating breakfast out.”

“He still likes to have breakfast out. Every Sunday we go to the Hilton and he orders tomato juice, half a grapefruit and toast,” Carol said, jumping as a pin caught her calf.

“Keep it that way, or you’ll end up like me,” Bonnie announced, coming out of the dressing room wearing an off the shoulder pink gown. “Bobby can’t operate the coffee machine, let alone cook anything unless it comes with microwave instructions.”

“No offence, Bonnie, but I don’t think pink is your color,” Mallory grinned. “You see, the thing with my father, is that he’s a used model. He was married for thirty years to my mother, but more importantly there was Margaret.”

“Guys,” Ginger called. “I think this might be the one.”

The women all turned to look at her and nodded. The silver silk fitted her frame perfectly, the low back and full skirt giving her added height.

“Carol?”

“I told you, you can have whatever you want,” she said softly. “I have everything I could ever want.”

“Oh hell, she’s smitten,” Ginger snarked. “She’s a lost cause.”

Bonnie shook her head, “Nope, we have six weeks. Plenty of time to teach her all there is to know about breaking a man in.”

“You make him sound like a horse,” Carol groaned.

“Well he was single for quite a while, he’s bound to have acquired lots of bad habits.”

“He’s a workaholic,” Mallory added.

“He’s stubborn. Sorry, Mal,” Donna squeaked.

She waved her hand in dismissal. “I know my father.”

Carol shook her head and the dress-maker slapped her legs. She shrugged and waited for what she knew was going to be a tirade on the inabilities of men.

“This is going to be a complete and utter nightmare,“ Leo grumbled, placing his hand at her back and guiding her into the elevator.

“They’re your oldest friends, Leo.”

“Yeah, well remind me later after the Spanish Inquisition and the lectures,” he groaned. “You don’t know Jed and Abbey like I do.”

Carol stiffened and turned to face him, “No, I don’t, and that is the whole point of this evening. For them to get to know me, and for me to get to know them as more than the President and First Lady.”

“I’m sorry, it’s just. . .”

“Leo, I can handle myself,” she said softly, running her fingers down his cheek and leaning in to kiss his lips.

Leo moved a hand to her hair and deepened the kiss, not in the least bit concerned that he was destroying her carefully prepared pleat. His hands were still roaming her body when the doors opened to reveal Abbey.

Her cough was anything but subtle. “Ah, Jed, Leo’s here,” Abbey called.

Carol jumped away from Leo and blushed, “Ma’am.”

“Carol, it’s Abbey,” she offered. “Hello Leo.”

“Abigail,” he warned.

“What?” She gave him a coy smile and placed a hand gently across Carol’s back. “Jed’s in his study, Leo, why don’t you go and join him?”

“I’ll be fine,“ Carol offered at his concern look, taking Abbey’s lead.

“Yeah, but will I be?” Leo muttered under his breath as he went to find the President.

Leo knocked on the door and waited to hear the President’s voice before opening the door and entering.

Jed sat in his arm chair, an egg cream on the table beside him, a wry smile fixed on his face. “Good evening, Leo.”

“Mr. President.”

“Leo, under the circumstances, I think Jed is more appropriate.”

“Oh hell,” Leo thought, it was going to be bad.

“Take a seat. I’m becoming an old hand at these things. First Toby and Margaret. Sam and my daughter. And you can stop grinning like that. And now you. But I must say this is by far my favorite one.”

Leo dropped into a chair and furrowed his brow. “Can we get this over with, please? I don’t want to leave Carol for too long.”

“Nah, leave them be, they’re having girly time,” Jed smiled and leaned forward in the seat, his hands clasped. “We’ve known each other for nearly forty years, Leo, and although we haven’t been friends for that long, I like to think we know each other well enough to be frank.”

Leo groaned.

Jed continued as if nothing had happened. “There are times I could have pummelled your ass with a baseball bat.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

“You’re welcome. So I feel it’s my duty to warn you not to screw this up.” He paused to sip his drink and looked thoughtful. “I love my wife, Leo. We fight, we make up, and on occasion we act like children. But I would do almost anything to make her happy.”

“Almost anything?” Leo asked with a smile.

“Sometimes I know what’s best.”

Leo wasn’t going to labor that particular point. What Jed considered best for Abbey had, on occasion, led to some heated debates. If anyone knew what was best for Abbey, it was Abbey, and he was sure the same could be said for Carol. “Look, maybe it would easier if I pointed a few things out to you.”

“Take my advice, Leo.”

“With all due respect, Sir,” Leo began, fixing Jed in his sights. “I love Carol, and she loves me. I’m well aware that she’s a good deal younger than me, and to be honest there are days I worry about not being there for her or for our child, but. . .”

“She’s pregnant?” The President spluttered, wiping his chin and placing his glass back on the table. “LEO!”

“No, she’s not pregnant, but it’s on the agenda,” Leo sighed.

“Leo, Leo, Leo,” Jed chided. “You, my friend are going to have to make some serious adjustments in your life if you’re planning a family.”

“I’m aware of that.”

Jed leaned back in his seat and gave a disarming smile. “For one, Josh is going to have to take on some of your work load and you are going to have to start going home on time. Not to mention taking weekends off. Maybe change your diet a little, less salt, more protein. . .”

“So now you’re channelling Abbey, Jed?” Leo asked, with a sly grin.

He shrugged and softened his voice. “I like Carol, Leo. She’s feisty and funny. Take good care of her.”

“I intend to, if she’ll let me, Jed.”

“If she’ll let you?” Jed snorted. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

Leo gestured with his hands and sighed, “These women, they’re not like the women of our generation. The only way I can put it is independent and resilient. Carol is my equal in every way and I would never try to ‘Take care of her.’ I tried once and she put me straight.”

“Oh, I’m liking this girl, more and more. What say we go and join them for dinner?” Jed rose to his feet and made his way towards the door. “She’s going to be good for you.”

******

Abbey led Carol into the small sitting room and motioned for her to sit on the couch.

“Wine, Carol?”

“Yes, Ma’am. . .Abbey,” Carol corrected herself and perched on the edge of the couch. Her hands fell into her lap as her eyes roamed the room.

Abbey poured two glasses of wine and settled herself on the couch beside her. “I wanted to have a few moments alone with you, without Leo, or Jed.”

“Okay.”

“Relax. Leo is my husband’s oldest friend, and when they get together they tend to get a little combative.” Abbey patted Carol’s hand. “So are you excited about the wedding?”

Carol’s eyes lit up and she smiled.

“Oh, you have got it bad,” Abbey cooed. “Where are you going to hold the ceremony?”

“Ah, that’s where I’m having problems. Obviously Leo wants the President as best man but we want to get married somewhere public . . .I mean my parents are coming and I want them to feel. . .”

“It’s okay, I know what you mean.”

“We have a number of hotels that we’re looking at.”

Abbey gave her a warm smile before sipping at her drink. “Carol, I love Leo. He’s like a brother, albeit an older one, to me and seeing him happy makes me happy.”

“And me.”

“I just wanted to make sure you were aware of a couple of things. Leo and Jed’s friendship for one. And I don’t know what he told you about Jenny.” Abbey hesitated. “Not to mention how to handle Leo.”

Carol gently lay her glass on the table and focused her attention fully on Abbey. “Leo and I’ve been together for a while, this isn’t a sudden decision. We talked about the future, having a family, even retiring to New Hampshire when the Administration’s over.”

“Oh.”

“But please, I’d like to hear what you have to say,” Carol said politely, folding her hands in her lap.

“Leo and Jed have been friends for years, longer than they realize and sometimes it’s like a marriage. I’ve had to step back at times and let them do whatever the hell it is they do. Jed was there through Leo’s darkest days and now Leo wants to be there for Jed.”

“I would never do anything to come between them.”

“And Jenny. Leo loved her so much and when she left, she blamed Jed and this place. And she may have been right to some extent but it was over long before then. The day he asked Jed to run, the three of us had dinner. He hadn’t told her, she wouldn’t have been interested,” Abbey said, her voice tinged with emotion. “I loved Jenny, but I love Leo more.”

“A part of Leo will always love his ex-wife and there’s Mallory to think about,” Carol stated. “And some part of him will always want to reach out to Sam, and Josh and CJ and the others. That’s part of why I love him, he’s kind and loving and sexy.”

“Look, I don’t want to interfere or upset you. I just want to be sure you’ll look after him, take care of him,” Abbey declared.

Carol smiled and nodded, “I’ll do my best. And besides I have a whole army of helpers.”

“That’s true. . .” Abbey stopped talking as the door opened and the two men entered.

“You can stop talking about us now, we’re here,” Jed said, grinning and hovering in the doorway.

“And what makes you think we haven’t got better things to talk about, Mr. President?” Carol smirked, rising to her feet and moving towards Leo. She squeezed his arm. “Like wedding dresses, and flowers and Sam.”

Jed shook his head and helped Abbey from her seat. “I’d like to propose a toast. To Carol. I happily surrender my charge of this old curmudgeon to you. May you both be happy.”

“To Carol.”

“Hey, Leo.”

Leo shifted position on the couch and looked over at the door. “What do you need, Josh?”

“I was just, you know, passing, and Margaret was away from her desk, and I thought maybe, you were. . .”

“I’m getting old over here,” Leo grumbled, pushing his glasses back on his nose.

“Well, I wanted to say congratulations on Carol.”

Leo raised an eyebrow and his lips twitched in amusement. “Congratulations on Carol?”

“On the engagement. And if there’s anything I can do. Any questions you have,” Josh babbled. “Well I’m your man.”

“Josh, this isn’t broke, it doesn’t need you to fix it.”

“Yeah, but I’m just saying, if you have any questions I’m Da man.”

Leo rolled his eyes and stifled a grin.

“Yeah, well, I have experience.”

“Carol and I have, you know, slept together.”

“Too much information, Leo,” Josh growled, covering his eyes with his hands and willing the images to disappear. “Maybe I should be your wing man.”

“And what does that entail?” Leo asked, wearily, glancing at the neatly stacked pile of folders on his desk and back at Josh.

“Being there when you’re indisposed.”

He couldn’t help it. He’d tried hard to hold off but the chuckle escaped his lips before he could stop it. “When. . .I’m. . .indisposed. . .” The laughter intensified and Josh began to look wounded.

“Is there a problem, Leo?” Margaret asked from just outside the door, fixing Josh with a threatening stare.

Leo shook his eyes and grinned, “Josh has just offered to service my fiancee should I be unable to do so.”

Margaret looked between them, rolled her eyes and returned to her desk.

“That’s not what I. . .,” Josh started then threw his arms in the air. “I’m going to go now.”

Leo waved him and returned to his work, grinning. Carol was gonna love hearing that.

******

“Hey Josh,” Carol called cheerfully as she headed through the Bullpen to her office.

CJ and Donna stopped talking and glanced between the two staffers.

Josh looked uncomfortable as he shuffled from foot to foot in his doorway and watched as Carol strode purposefully through the Bullpen.

“Carol.”

She stopped slap bang in the middle of the Bullpen and smiled at him. “About your little offer. . .”

Josh’s groan was audible.

“Josh’s offer?” CJ asked, folding her arms across her chest and giving Josh her death stare.

“Could we, you know, keep it between ourselves?”

“Sure. But I gotta tell you, Leo is grateful for the advice. It’s not everyday a power dater like yourself, who is so in-tune with the female race, is so willing to go into bat for him,” Carol declared dryly.

Josh swallowed and tried not to notice the women around him stop work. “Uh.”

“And I also gotta say,” she continued, thoroughly enjoying Josh squirming. “That your little pep talk did wonders. “ Carol winked at him and carried on to her office.

“She has been working for you for way too long,” Josh grumbled in CJ’s direction before stepping back into his office. “Donna, get in here.”

“Oh yes, great sex guru,” Donna spluttered, nudging CJ and following Josh. She couldn’t wait to find out what that was all about.

“You know eloping is looking like a great idea, right now,” Leo grumbled, walking into Carol’s office and leaning against the desk.

“More advice?” Carol asked, tidying her desk and grabbing her jacket.

“Margaret wants me to eat more fiber and less starch in the lead up to the wedding,“ Leo shook his head. “And then Toby dropped by.”

“CJ leant me a book.”

“Oh?” Leo gave her a curious look.

Carol dug in her bag and held out the paperback book.

“Fifty ways to tease your lover?” he squeaked, furrowing his brow as he thumbed through the pages. “You know there is such a thing as too much advice.”

“Page thirty,” Carol offered, picking up the phone and closing the Press office for the night.

Leo scanned the page and his eyes twinkled. “Okay, I guess we should go home and. . .”

“Yup.” She took his hand and headed for the lobby. “But I think we’ll save page fifty for our wedding night.”

“I’m going home now,” Carol called through the open doorway.

“Give me five minutes and I’ll join you.” Leo glanced at his watch and towards the door. “Actually make that ten.”

Carol gave him a wry smile. “Aren’t you forgetting something?”

“Oh, do I have to go?”

“You’re whining.”

“But it was Josh’s idea,” he groaned.

“Yeah, and he went to a lot of trouble. There are balloons and Chinese take out, and not from the usual place but some up market executive place.”

“Josh, Toby and the President, Carol.”

Carol crossed the room and perched on his desk, taking his hand in her own. “I wanna do you, right here and right now.”

“Carol!”

She shrugged and lifted his hand to her lips, brushing her lips across his knuckles, her eyes locking eyes with his. “On this desk.”

“Carol.”

“But. . .,” she smirked, sliding off the desk. “CJ and I are having drinks and I’m under strict instructions to make sure you go to the party.” She waved her hand and headed for the door. “But, I can promise you, McGarry, that tomorrow night there will be fireworks.”

Leo leaned back in his chair and groaned. She had no right to have the effect she had on him.

******

Leo took another swig of his ginger ale and watched as Josh swaggered to the door and stuck his head into the corridor for the fifth time in the last ten minutes. Leo knew he should be concerned, after all if anyone was going to do something stupid it was Josh, but they were in the White House. He glanced across at Sam, slouched on the floor and Toby who was sitting quietly at the table, swirling his whiskey glass, before settling his eyes on the President.

Jed was grinning like a Cheshire Cat, his eyes slightly glazed from the combination of champagne and punch, Josh had been serving all night. He could only hope that Abbey had adjusted his medication dosage or someone was in for an earful. Jed waved a glass in his direction as Josh stumbled to the floor.

“Sam, Sam, Sam,” he slurred and Sam turned and grinned.

Leo’s stomach lurched. It wasn‘t happening, it couldn’t be. He covered his eyes as Josh staggered to his feet and opened the door.

There was a wolf whistle and a moan and something from Sam that resembled a squeak.

“Hey Sam, is she one of your friends?” Jed cackled and Leo sank further into his chair. If Jed was torturing Sam about his past then he really was drunk.

Ed and Larry sat up straighter in their seats as the tall slender redhead entered the room and positioned her stereo on the desk.

“So who’s the lucky guy?” she drawled, looking around the room and smoothing down her uniform.

There was a moment of silence in which Leo’s mind raced. It wasn‘t good, a stripper in the White House and the President present. And for that matter the Chairman of the Joint Chief’s, three senior white house advisors, his daughter’s boyfriend, and Ed and Larry. Eleven months into their second term and there was going to be a scandal.

“He is.” Leo pointed to Josh, swaying against the wall.

The others looked mildly surprised then settled back to watch the show.

Madeline hit play on the stereo and sidled up to her prey. Slowly she pulled the pin from her hair and her red curls fell down her back. As the music began to play she rubbed her body up and down Josh and danced around him.

Jed for his part was glued to his seat, eyes wide as the Navy jacket landed on the floor beside Sam and her tie landed in Fitz’s lap. He paled as her blouse came flying through the air and covered his face.

The black half cup bra wasn’t classy, Leo decided, and didn’t look anywhere near as sexy as Carol in her red Basque, an image he didn’t need in a room full of men. He looked away as Josh sank to his knees and began to remove her garter belt with his teeth. It couldn’t get much worse, could it?

Ten minutes later, Madeline was sitting on Ed’s or maybe Larry’s, lap in nothing more than a thong and Josh was propped up in the corner, his trousers around his shoulders as he gyrated to the music.

“Great party, Leo,” Jed chuckled. “Who’d known Ron’s niece was a stripper?”

Scandal averted, Leo concluded. “Yes, Sir.”

“What was that stuff she squirted on Josh’s chest?”

“Canned whipped cream,” Leo offered, checking his watch and debating whether he could finally slip away.

“Ah. Well, great party, Leo. I’m going to make a recon visit to the kitchen and . . .um, see if Abbey’s still awake.”

Leo nodded, his forehead scrunching in distress at the image. “Good night, Mr. President.” He watched as his friend slipped out of the room and wobbled down the corridor, an agent at each side.

“Way to go, Ed.”

“I’m Larry.”

Josh waved his hand in a so what gesture as the junior aide stumbled to his feet and began to untie his tie, his hips swaying from side to side. One foot came in the air and his shoe flew across the room.

Leo groaned and headed towards his office, everyone so engrossed in the now half naked man that he slipped away unnoticed.

The day was perfect, just the way Carol had wanted it. After spending the evening before with CJ, she had spent the morning in bed, reading newspapers and watching the tail end of the Christmas shows. The afternoon had been more hectic, a constant stream of bridesmaids, hairdressers and florists, but she had managed to maintain control of the wedding.

When Leo had proposed she had known exactly how she wanted to get married, and in his love for her and his wish not to be bogged down by the nonsense that was wedding planning, he had left her to her own devices. When Carol had told him of her plans he had been relieved at how simple she wanted their wedding to be.

Hence the fact that they were about to take their vows in the East Room of the White House at seven o’clock on New Years Eve.

Carol had chosen the room after consultation with the First Lady, mainly because it was a publicly accessible room and they were less likely to be accused of taking advantage of their position. But also because it could still be sealed off for the President to attend. It wasn‘t lost on either of them that there was an endless amount of trivia on the location that the President could use to entertain the guests in the event of a hitch. Which he was doing as Carol completed the final adjustments to her dress.

“Did you know that seven Presidents have lain in state here?“

“Well that’s a comforting thought,“ Leo snorted.

“I guess the new President didn’t want the casket in the middle of the Oval.“

Leo shot him a look and turned to roll his eyes at Abbey.

“It was your decision to have him as Best Man,“ she offered with a smile and turned back to Zoey.

The wedding was to be a simple affair with their closest friends and family, followed by a intimate but lavish dinner. Later the guests would join the rest of the staff at the President’s New Year’s Eve party, and watch the fireworks.

Leo had been surprised when he’d first entered the room. The usual minimal furniture had been moved out to leave only twenty four William King Chairs, arranged in four rows.

The Steinway grand piano with its gilt American eagle supports stood off to one side as a pianist played soft music. On top of the stenciled surface lay the marriage license, in readiness for the couple to sign.

The white paneling gave the room a light touch and Carol had continued the theme with nothing but white candles, hundreds of them lighting the room and white flowers draped wherever possible. The air had the fragrance of gardenias and lily of the valley.

It was, Leo knew, as much about peace and tranquillity, as Carol not wanting to be the center of attention. He couldn’t help but get nervous as he waited for her to appear at the back of the room.

Carol had taken the theme one stage further, much to the President’s delight and asked the guests to wear white or black. The President had chosen a white tie ensemble to match his wife’s elegant floor length white beaded gown and persuaded Leo to do the same. Josh and Sam had gone for black tie and were now hiding out of his line of sight, fearing another lecture on the tradition of white tie.

Everyone had been in their seats for ages, the only thing missing was the bride and her attendants, all four of them. It had been the only bone of contention, the number of bridesmaids but Carol had been adamant. She had wanted five, but CJ had declined, citing that she was too old. More likely she didn’t want to be separated from her man.

Carol was in the residence, checking her appearance in the mirror and sipping champagne. Mallory, Ginger, Donna and Bonnie were with her, trying to keep her calm and praying they managed not to trip up in the silver silk gowns Carol had bought them.

Downstairs, Carol’s family were sitting in the front row. CJ in the row behind them, her date at her side. Stanley Keyworth had flown in for Christmas and she had invited him as her date for the wedding. He seemed to be spending more time in DC than in San Francisco, which CJ had to admit she quite liked. Their relationship had begun in a rather unorthodox way. He was her therapist after Simon, then six months later he had returned to counsel Abbey. Since then they had been an item, albeit a long distance one. Not that the senior staff minded. His dating CJ provided a perfect cover for his other major reason for visiting the district and he made her happy. That in itself was a blessing.

On the other side sat the First family in attendance and Leo’s family.

Toby and Margaret sat near the back, Susannah and Sarah on their laps with Sam to one side, their son bouncing up and down on his lap as he held his girlfriend’s hand.

The few remaining guests were close friends of the bride and groom.

The sound of the piano made Leo’s head shoot up and his feet began to shuffle nervously.

Jed glanced to his friend and grinned. He’d been there. Thirty-seven years ago, he’d waited for Abbey Barrington to arrive, a sudden panic that she wasn’t going to turn up. Then fifteen minutes late she’d appeared and his life had been complete. Looking back over his shoulder, he nodded as the first woman came into view. “Any final requests?”

“Yeah, I’m thinking of asking Josh to stand in for me,” Leo retorted.

“You have no sense of humor, Leo. You’ll make a perfect husband.” Jed jumped slightly as a heel dug into his leg and he turned to find his wife glaring. He gave her a smile and turned to face the front.

Carol clung to the father’s arm as though it was all that was keeping her up right. She took slow measured steps as the satin swirled around her legs. Her fear had manifested itself in her forgetting to breathe and it was only worsened by the fact the dress seemed to have shrunk between the final fitting and her wedding day.

The nerves disappeared as she glanced up and caught Leo’s eye.

He turned his body until he was standing facing her, his eyes shining and the widest grin she had ever seen etched across his face.

Her feet moved more quickly as she raced to be with him.

His hand was extended, ready to take hers as she joined him in front of the judge and they prepared to take their vows.

Carol rolled over in bed and reached for Leo. She opened her eyes with a start when she found an empty space beside her. “Leo?”

Leo padded into view, his robe hanging open to reveal his pajama bottoms and bare chest. “Hey.”

“You got up.”

“You were sleeping and I didn’t want to disturb you. How are you this morning, Mrs McGarry?” he grinned, settling on the edge of the bed and stroking her hair.

“Cold and lonely here without you.”

“Was that a hint?”

“Um,” she purred, running her fingers across his chest and tweaking a nipple. “Leo!” she complained, catching sight of the clock. “It’s five am. No one’s going into work, Josh and Toby are probably still singing in the rose garden, we have all day to do nothing.”

“I thought you’d want to open the presents,” he teased.

“I can think of other things,” she offered, pushing the sheet down off her breasts. “And none of them involve seeing the light of day.” Gently she grabbed his robe and pulled him towards her. “Besides I opened the presents when you were getting undressed last night.”

“Figures. And?”

Carol hooked a leg around his ankle and leaned up to kiss him. “Just the usual, five toasters, two coffee pots and a bottle of motion lotion from CJ.”

Her lips pressed against his and his hand tangled in her hair as he wondered whether CJ was trying to kill him or just acquire his parking space.