******

Toby swivelled his chair and propped his feet up on the window sill. His eyes remained focused on the small black and white picture between his fingers as his thumb traced the series of white dots. He still couldn’t believe that in a few short months, he was going to be a father, let alone a father of three. The notion brought tears to his eyes.

“Hey Pokey,” CJ called, entering the office and leaning against the visitor’s chair. “Pokey?”

He swiped his eyes with his finger tips before he finally turned around. “What do you need, CJ?”

“The President’s remarks for the European Parliament. Is that the scan?” she asked eagerly, leaning over the desk.

“Yeah.”

“Can I see?”

Toby handed over the photo and watched as she scrunched up her face, trying to locate the fetus. “Here, let me show you,” he offered, rising out of his chair and coming around the desk. “That’s the head, that’s a heart, and the white bit is the backbone.”

“Wow.” CJ adjusted her glasses and peered over them, “Hang on, a minute, what’s the other white bit?”

“That would be our second child,” Toby said, his mouth twitching into a grin. “And that’s the third.” He pointed to the final blurred image. “We’re having triplets.”

“Oh, my God. Are you kidding me?” she shrieked, looking up at him and back to the picture. “Three?”

“Who’s Da Man?”

CJ raised an eyebrow.

“Okay, so you aren’t going to tell Margaret I said that, are you?”

“On one condition,” she grinned.

“What?”

“I can be there when you tell the President and Leo.”

Toby groaned and rubbed his forehead. “You realize it’s going to be torture and there’s going to be mocking. . .at my expense?”

CJ nodded, “And I thought my day was going to be dull.” She held out the photo for him.

“It’s yours. Margaret asked for nine copies. By the end of the day I have visions of our kids being up all over the West Wing.” His face broke out into a smile, “So is it gonna be Aunt CJ, Aunt Claudia or Auntie Claudie?”

******

“You’re back,” Leo grumbled, walking out of his office and staring at Margaret.

“Yes. Did you need something?” she grinned, ignoring his obvious mood, determined not to let anything spoil her day.

“Yeah, where is the damn schedule for the trip?”

Margaret shook her head and brushed passed him on her way to his desk. Lifting a coffee cup, she slid out a blue folder and waved it in his direction. “I put it there this morning.”

Leo sighed, “I didn’t see it.”

“That’s okay.” She got as far as the door before his voice stopped her.

“I take it the scan went well.”

“Yeah,” she replied, hesitating, preparing to tell him just how well.

Leo was already back at his desk, scribbling frantically when she looked back and opened her mouth to speak.

Letting out the breath she hadn‘t realized she was holding, Margaret bobbed her head and returned to her desk.

******

Toby waited until CJ had left before he powered up his computer. Things were still rocky with his brother, but they were at least trying to build bridges. He’d been to see David and his nephews the previous Thanksgiving and David was hoping to come visit Toby the following Spring. Of course that was before Toby and Margaret had started courting and before the pregnancy. He knew his latest news was going to bring his brother and him closer together.

Being a father was been something Toby had always dreamed of. With Andi the issue was a non-starter and, after the marriage failed, he had never expected to have the chance again. Of course, with Margaret, it wasn’t what anyone would call conventional, but they muddled along and now they were going to be parents. The triplets, even the word made him smile, were going to change his life, for the better. Even the prospect of sleepless nights, dirty diapers and rationed sex couldn’t put him off. He was going to be a good father. The children and Margaret were going to have everything.

He drummed his fingers on his forehead as he tried to think of what he wanted to say. For a man who worked with words for a living, Toby was having a tough time putting on paper, or in this case typing on a screen, how much this whole experience meant to him.

“Dear David,” he began. “How are Ruth and the boys? As she may have mentioned I tried to call last week, but you were away on a mission. The reason I was calling is that I have some news.“ His fingers flew over the keyboard as his thoughts came thick and fast. After re-reading what he had written, Toby spell-checked his letter and grinned. He printed it off and dropped it onto his desk before dashing out of his office to a meeting.

******

“Mr. President,” Sam called across the room. “Is the type face okay?”

“It’s fine, but you might wanna drop the euro sign at the start of every paragraph. The British might take offence at our endorsing the euro. Did you know that since decimalisation, the pound. . .?”

Sam muttered under his breath and watched as the teleprompter clerk rectified the problem.

“Can we get started?” Leo grumbled, dropping into a chair and motioning Margaret to sit beside him. “Where’s Toby?”

“I was looking for the speech,” Toby said, entering the room in a hurry, notepad in one hand, coffee in the other.

“I took it off your desk.”

“Yeah, I know that now,” Toby growled. “CJ’s on a call so count her out.”

Jed leaned against the podium and glanced around at them. “Shall I go back to my office and you can call me when you’re ready?”

“We’re ready. Josh, Toby, take a seat, will ya?”

Once everyone was seated, the President began. He was flowing through the first two pages as Toby scribbled changes and Leo nodded.

“I’m not sure about this,” Jed commented, stopping mid-word and looking around the room.

“Can we do a complete read through and make changes later?” Leo moaned.

“Okay,” Jed grinned, clearing his throat. “Dear David, How are Ruth and the boys? As she may have mentioned I tried to call last week, but you were away on a mission. The reason I was calling is that I have some news. In fact, I now have even more news. Margaret had her scan today and it seems there‘s life in the old dog yet. You see…“

Toby growled something inaudible as he rubbed his face with his hands. He peered out from behind his hands and glared at Sam.

“. . .we’re expecting triplets.”

Margaret groaned and slid further down in her seat.

“TRIPLETS???”

“That’s what it says, Leo,” Jed grinned.

“Wow!” Sam exclaimed. “Nice one, boss.” He patted Toby on the back but withdrew his hand at the expression of distain on Toby’s face.

Josh folded his arms across his chest and smirked at Donna. “See, for once, I’m not the stupid dumb ass in trouble.”

“Margaret?”

“Yes, Leo?” she asked, very quietly, all color draining from her face.

“Is this true?”

She nodded mutely, nibbling on her bottom lip and staring at the floor.

“How the hell did this happen?” Leo yelled.

Margaret jumped in her seat and glanced at Toby for help.

He was slouched forward, his head in his hands as voices continued to swirl around him. He was going to kill someone, probably Sam for picking up the letter, then maybe Josh, for just being Josh.

“If you don’t know, maybe CJ can lend you the sex ed report,” Sam offered cheerfully, holding his hands in surrender as Leo shot him a look. “Or maybe not.”

“Does this mean that you’re going to be getting married?” Jed asked, stepping down from the podium and moving closer to his staff. “I mean we won’t have much time, but I’m sure Abbey would want to help.” His face broke out into a broad smile as something occurred to him. “Wow, this means that I know something Abbey doesn’t. I need to go tell her. She’s going to be so green that I found out first.”

“Toby, do you have a picture?” a timid voice asked from the back of the room.

Toby turned in his seat to find Carol hovering by the bank of screens. “Of the scan?”

“Yeah, I’d like to see the first picture of the babies.”

“Sure.” Toby reached into his pocket and pulled out the small black and white from the scan, oblivious to the broad smile on his face.

Carol moved in closer and took the photo. She stared for a moment then smiled, ”I can make out two, where’s the third?”

Sam and Donna leaned up from their seats to peer over her shoulder.

“Do you know the sexes?” Donna asked, looking across at Margaret.

“We didn’t think to ask. It was a bit of a surprise.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Toby growled, glancing at Leo before pointing out the blobs to Carol. “As long as we have three healthy, happy babies, I don’t care if they’re boys or girls.”

“Ah,” the women, and Sam chorused together.

Leo rolled his eyes and looked between Margaret and Toby as they locked eyes.

“So, you don’t mind if we end up with three girls?” Margaret asked, sitting up straighter.

“If they’re anything like their mother, I won’t mind a bit.” His hand sought hers and squeezed gently. “And you aren’t going to want for anything.”

“That’s so sweet,” Donna declared. “Bet he doesn’t send her flowers on their non-anniversary.”

Josh groaned and shook his head, “I told you why I send you flowers in April.”

“I’m sorry to interrupt this love fest, but we have work to do,” Leo growled, unsure whether he was going to be able to keep his lunch down if it continued much longer.

Toby cleared his throat and pulled back from Margaret. “Um, yeah, Sam, go and rescue the President.”

“Why me?”

“Because the First Lady is going to be on the warpath when she discovers she was the last to know.”

“Oh, boy, am I glad I’m not going to be there to see that,” Josh smirked.

“Go with him,” Leo ordered, before turning to look at Toby. He folded his arms as the two men embarked on a silent staring competition.

The three women left in the room shook their heads and groaned.

“I guess you couldn’t wait then, “ CJ commented dryly as she came down the steps from the press room. “I see Leo’s taking it well.”

Leo grumbled something and shot her the look he normally reserved for Josh’s stupidity.

“Not feeling quite Da Man now then,” CJ chortled, as Toby covered his face with his hands.

“Da Man, Toby?” Margaret asked, her voice low and threatening. “And who exactly is the one carrying the babies, who’s the one putting on pounds by the day and who’s the one who’s going to have to endure excruciating labor, which I might add, you are going to be present for?”

“You, darling,” Toby mumbled, grateful Josh and Sam were out of the room.

“Yeah, me. And a little support from you wouldn’t go a miss either,” she snorted, jabbing a finger at Leo.

Leo looked over Margaret’s shoulder, a little taken back by his assistant’s sudden threatening nature.

“Hormones,” mouthed Toby, shaking his head.

Leo nodded and turned back to Margaret. “I’m very happy for you, both of you,” he added at her raised eyebrow.

“Really?” Margaret’s shoulders shook as she fought back the first tears.

“Yes, really,” Leo sighed. “Congratulations Toby, Margaret. If there’s anything you need, just ask.”

Margaret launched herself at Leo, burying her head in his shoulder as the tears streamed down her face.

“Now can we get back to work?” Leo bellowed, handing her his clean handkerchief and blushing crimson.

The End

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