Leo sat in his room, staring out of the window. The place was the same as he remembered, except this time he knew how to play the game. He kinda liked the shrink, maybe because she reminded him of Abbey.

“So Leo, you have a drink problem?”

“Yeah, I get drunk.”

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah. When did you realize you had a problem?"

"Look, lady, I've done this before. I've had a problem since I was like 15. I acknowledged it several years ago, and this is the second time I've fallen off the bandwagon." Leo was losing his patience.

"Why did you fall off this time?" she asked.

"Because I lost a child and my fiancée."

“And when did you have your first drink?” she asked, crossing her legs and giving him more than a little view of her thigh.

“Wednesday night, a bottle of Jack Daniels, followed by whatever was in the minibar.” He watched as she uncrossed her legs and recrossed them.

“And why do you think you drink?”

Leo sighed, “I like to be socialable?”

"When you answer with a question, it's usually the wrong answer." She adjusted her notebook in her lap.

"I like to feel good," Leo growled. "Drinking makes me feel good."

"Now we're getting somewhere." She fidgeted with her pen. "Now, why did your fiancée and child leave you?"

There was a knock at the door. "Will you excuse me a moment?" she asked, heading out. When she came back in, she smiled an icy smile. "Apparently, ATVA has decided you qualify as a trauma victim, and as such, fall under their jurisdiction. Some guy named Stanley Keyworth is here to pick you up and take you to a facility closer to Washington."

“And you and I were getting along so well,” Leo laughed. “Can I get your number?”

“In your dreams.”

Leo packed up his belongings and headed out to the lobby.

“Stanley.”

“You’re being transferred to my care and the same rules apply,” he said firmly.

“Understood. How is she?”

“Not good.”

Leo sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Great."

"You should've called me sooner, friend..." Stanley joked wryly. "Anyway -- you're going to the National Centre."

"Oh fun -- a couple of hot meals a day and counselling," Leo grumped.

"Yeah, but you get to go home at night," Stanley prompted with a smile. "Come on, we've got a flight to catch."

"I don't have a home to go home to," Leo sighed.

“Toby has a couch, he says you two are becoming close friends,” Stanley muttered, grinning.

“I’m thinking of giving up women and having a meaningful relationship with him, “ Leo explained.

Stanley raised his eyebrows but didn’t comment.

“Who told her I was here?”

“Hoynes,” Stanley said quietly, “She accompanied him to the dinner.”

"That bastard."

"You have no idea," Stanley grumped.

"What else did he do?" Leo asked worriedly.

"Don't worry about it," Stanley said vaguely.

When they arrived at the airport, Stanley seemed to look around for someone. He sighed, then led Leo over to the Starbucks kiosk. "What's your poison?" he asked.

"Double mocha cappuccino," CJ's voice said over Leo's shoulder. "With an extra shot of espresso."

Leo’s jaw dropped and he turned to stare at her. Rubbing his hand across his stubbly cheek he lowered his eyes.

“What the hell is she doing here?” he growled.

“She’s about as obstinate as you are. I’ll be watching the planes if you need me,” Stanley added, walking away. “Try and take it easy.”

“Leo, honey,” she whispered, “I had to come.”

"Why?" he asked, going over to one of the oversized easychairs and flopping into it. "I thought we were OVER."

She followed him and sat down on the coffeetable in front of him. "Leo..."

"No, CJ, I don't want to hear it. You obviously wanted it to be finished between us, and you've gotten your wish."

"Leo..." She was trying to hide her agitation and tears.

"Just..."

"Leo, daddy had a heart attack."

Leo’s eyes lift just a fraction to look at her. “How bad are we talking?” he asks, resisting the urge to hug her.

She shrugs, “He was drugged when I left, but they want to operate.”

“Jesus, I’m sorry,” he mutters. “So you need me to hold your hand?” he asks, his voice laced with bitterness.

“I fucked Hoynes in a limo, what does that tell you?”

"It tells me that you've obviously found someone better than me to keep you happy," Leo snapped. "What do you want from me, CJ? What the HELL do you want from me?"

She was silent.

"What, you want to be able to taunt me forever? 'Oh yeah, I pulled him out of rehab just to tell him I fucked some other guy'? Or do you want me to walk through life, holding your hand?"

"I wanted to save our friendship," she said, voice barely above a whisper. "But I guess that's not going to happen." She stood up and walked away, knowing full-well how pathetic she looked. How tired, run-down, how exhausted she seemed. She went up to Stanley, and said, "He hates me."

"Have you done anything to change that?" Stanley asked.

"He won't let me." CJ sighed in defeat and rubbed her eyes. "I hurt everyone, why should he care?"

“Oh jeez, I should just refer you two to relationship counselling. “ Stanley teased. “Take a look at the man.” CJ turned to watch Leo. “Where are the designer suits? Where are the smart arsed comments? He hasn’t shaved in days. He’s turning back to the bottle. You tell me he doesn’t care,” Stanley snapped.

“He’s reacting,” she whispered.

“To what, CJ?”

“To losing the baby,” she said quietly

Stanley rolled his eyes and pulled out his wallet. He handed her a $20 bill and said, "Go buy him a cup of coffee and some magazines, would ya?"

She took the bill and stared at it for a long time. "Stanley?"

"What?"

"What if he doesn't want me back?"

"Trust me -- he does." Stanley patted her on the back. "Now go, okay?"

CJ sighed and nodded. "Okay."

Leo was patting his pockets when she walked up behind him.

“Here,” she said smiling at the cashier and handing over the bill. Turning to Leo she asked, “Do you want anything else for the flight?”

“Nah, I’m fine,” he muttered, taking the coffee and walking away.

CJ sighed and grabbed the change before trotting at his heels. “For just one minute can we talk, sixty seconds for me to say my piece?”

“It’s too late,” he snapped, stopping and turning to look at her, “I can’t be your friend. I’m not up to holding your hand through every crisis. You want this to be over, you have your wish. Claudia, I’m not leaving you, you pushed me away,” he added bitterly.

"Yeah," she said very quietly, turning around and walking toward the ladies' room. She fished her cell phone out of her purse once she was in the restroom, and called Anita.

"CJ, is that you?" Anita asked way too peppily for CJ's taste.

"Yeah, it's me. Look, I'm going to be back tonight, and... I just wanted to say not to wait for me to come to see Dad tonight. I may not be there in the morning," she promised, frowning at her reflection in the mirror.

"The surgery's scheduled for 4 this afternoon -- I'll tell him you'll be there when he wakes up," Anita said. "Honey, what's wrong?"

"Nothing," CJ said, going into a stall and closing the door. "I'm just very tired and I don't feel well."

"Yeah," Anita said hesitantly. Doubtfully, "Well, I'll see you in the morning, then."

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

“Why she do it?” Leo asked from his position beside Stanley.

“Push you away, lie about her mother or sleep with him?” Stanley replied in a monotone.

“Hoynes.”

“I can’t discuss my patients.”

“Shit, I’m an the ledge here, debating whether to jump, and you quote that crap at me,” Leo groaned. “Right now I wanna drink.”

Stanley snuck a glance across the aisle at a sleeping CJ. "Well, you're gonna have to quell that urge, Leo, because, I hate to say it, she's worse off than you are."

"Oh yeah, she's worse off," Leo snorted.

Stanley turned to look at him for a long time, before saying, "Okay, you want me to discuss my patient right now? She's working on suicidal, Leo. The whole flight out here, she was talking about how if things didn't work out right, she didn't want to live another day through it. Now you tell me

which of you two is worse off."

Leo took a long glance at her, “I have the money, you’re gonna get her through this, right?”

“Money isn’t going to be enough.” Stanley acknowledged. “For her to get through this we need to go back to the beginning. Everyone she loves leaves her. The Vice President wants to sleep with her. She doesn’t think he’ll desert her and she’s probably right.”

“So I should just let her get involved with him?” Leo snorted.

“Hell no. She needs to know you will never leave her. I want you to seduce her.”

Leo snorted and gestured to himself. "Seduce her? She can't even hardly stand to look at me. I can't even look at myself."

Stanley sighed. "Like she was looking at you before, Leo? How did she look at you before?"

"Her... her eyes just lit up," he said lamely. "I don't know how to explain it."

"And you walked around with a smile on your face all the time, didn't you?" Stanley asked.

Leo sighed and his shoulders slumped. "I need a drink."

"No, Leo, what you need is a good swift foot up your ass."

“And like you’re the one to give it to me,” Leo snarked. “So explain how I seduce her again.?”

“I don’t mean take your clothes off and shake your tackle at her, shouting ‘do you want some of this?’” Stanley offered.

“That’s Josh’s style,” Leo grinned.

“Yeah. So your style. Don’t try to be the one she depends on, be the one she falls in love with.”

“I’m not very successful at making women fall in love with me,” Leo commented, sadly.

"You're more successful than you think you are," Stanley said.

CJ stirred a little in her sleep, and settled again. Leo watched her for a long time, then noticed that Stanley was smiling at him. "What?"

"You're gonna do just fine, Leo," Stanley said, stifling a laugh.

"Yeah, well..."

They both turned when CJ let out a cry of pain in her sleep, and started reaching up to scratch at her neck like she was trying to pull someone off of her.

"Shit," Stanley muttered, unbuckling and switching seats.

"CJ, you're okay," he assured her, gently holding her hands still, away from her neck. "It's going to be okay."

Leo just stared across the aisle in stunned silence. He was suddenly grateful that there weren't many people on the plane, and that they were the only ones in first class.

CJ jerked awake with another low cry, and then looked around, trying to get her bearings. Stanley offered her a gentle hug, and she took it, trying not to cry.

"It's going to be okay," Stanley said quietly, stroking her back comfortingly.

“I’m going to throw up,” she announced, pushing him away and rushing for the washroom.

“We need to get her checked out by a doctor,” Stanley said, watching her disappear up the aisle.

“You are a doctor.”

“It needs to be someone she trusts,” Stanley continued ignoring him. “Dr Bartlet still has a medical licence, doesn’t she?”

Leo stared at him, “You think she’s sick?”

“Maybe an infection. It was a termination she had right?” Stanley asked, flipping through his notebook.

Leo shrugged, “They wouldn’t tell me what they did.”

"Here we go..." Stanley muttered. "Termination and partial hysterectomy. Recommendation of radical hysterectomy in the next year."

"What?" Leo asked, looking alarmed. "No one told me this."

"I don't know if CJ even knows -- they wouldn't have let her read the charts," Stanley muttered. He looked up. "I want to put her on an anti-depressant, but I hesitate until we know if something's wrong with her physically, rather than emotionally."

"You're talking about me again," CJ accused, coming back down the aisle and flopping into her seat, pulling her blanket back around her.

"Yeah, I am," Stanley said with an amused smile. "Isn't it my job?"

"Whatever," CJ muttered, turning away from them and staring out the window into the night.

"Now's your first chance," Stanley whispered to Leo.

"My first chance to what?" Leo asked.

"Uh, duh, hello -- we were talking about you seducing her, genius." Stanley rapped a couple of times on the side of Leo's head with his knuckles. "I think that whiskey fried what

was left of your brain cells, man..."

Leo raised his eyebrows, “Any suggestions?”

“You’re on your own.”

“Great,” Leo muttered, unbuckling his seatbelt and stepping over the aisle. “Is this seat taken?” He asked, grinning.

CJ looked up and gave him a ‘Have you been drinking?’ look.

“Okay, it’s fine, I’ll sit down there,” he muttered, walking to the seat the row in front. Two seconds later his head appeared over the seat. “Have you got any gum?”

“What?”

“Gum, minty blue or spearmint, or something, you always had gum on the bus,” he replied, grinning.

“Here,” she said, handing him a fresh packet.

“Thanks.” Then his head disappeared.

Two minutes later he appeared again. “I can’t get this control thing to work.”

Stanley watched the exchange in amusement, not really sure how Leo ever managed to get the girl.

“Try pressing the start button?” CJ instructed waving her hands.

Leo shook the control, “Nope, doesn’t work.”

“Holy hell,” she sighed, getting on and sliding into the seat next to him. “Can’t you do anything without me?”

Leo gave her his widest grin, “Nope.”

She fixed the button and went back to her seat, pinching the bridge of her nose in a futile attempt to ward off her headache.

A minute later, his head appeared again. "Hey, you gotta see this thing -- it's so ugly!"

"I'm trying to sleep," CJ muttered, pulling her blanket back around herself tightly.

"Party pooper," Leo said, turning around again.

She was just about asleep again, when his head appeared. "I'm thirsty -- you want something to drink?"

"Oh for God's sake, can't you shut up and go to sleep?" she moaned, covering her eyes with her hand.

"No," Leo said. "I'm wired, thanks to the coffee you gave me."

Stanley stifled a belly laugh, and CJ lifted her hand to glare at him. "Somehow, I get the impression that this is your doing," she growled, covering her eyes again and wishing she was anywhere but there.

She was almost asleep again, when the seat beside her moved. "I thought you could use some company," Leo said.

"And I think you can use a swift kick," CJ muttered.

“I’ve never heard of a swift kiss before, can you show me?” he asked, his eyes twinkling.

“I swear if you don’t leave me alone, I’ll find the emergency exit and shove you out,” she whined.

“Hey Stanley, I think she likes me.”

"God, are you always this annoying, or is it the lingering alcohol?" she asked coldly.

"I'm always this annoying," Leo said, trying not to be offended by her biting tongue. He waited until she had gotten comfortable again before he leaned over and whispered in her ear, "What would you like me to do?"

"Fuck off," CJ muttered sleepily.

"Really?"

"REALLY."

Leo stifled a snort and leaned down to trail kisses over her neck. She sat up quickly, and he almost got his teeth knocked out.

"You have ten seconds to get back in your seat or..."

"Or what?" Leo challenged. "You'll kiss me?"

“You wouldn’t dare try it,” she warned.

Leo glanced at Stanley and raised an eyebrow. Stanley shrugged.

As he turned back to her Leo sighed, “No I probably wouldn’t. Go to sleep.”

CJ grinned triumphantly and closed her eyes.

Two seconds later she felt his hands cup her face and his lips press against hers.

CJ’s eyes opened wide.

She pulled back and squeaked, "What was that?"

"A kiss," Leo deadpanned.

"Why?"

"Because I was wrong. I do love you, and this isn't over at all."

With that he got up and returned to his seat next to Stanley leaving CJ open mouthed.

“So Stanley, analyse me.”

“Leo, I analysed you the first time we met,” Stanley began. “You’re a third generation alcoholic. You’re scared you’ll never be good enough, which is why you’ve never run for office. You desperately want love and when you finally found that you worried it would all fall apart.”

“Wow, you’re good.”

“So I’m told.”

Leo grinned, “So what do I have to do now?”

“Learn to kiss would be a start,” a voice said from above him.

He looked up and she immediately bent down to kiss him gently, passionately, with all the tenderness of a long-time lover. She nibbled on his lower lip, twined their tongues together, then pulled away.

“Yuck,” Stanley gagged. “Can you hold off on that sort of thing while I’m here.?”

CJ shot him a glance, “Now what?”

“There’s more to the problem than kissing,” Stanley stated. “You need to talk, properly, and openly.”

He looked between them, “Once we’ve checked in on your dad, I want the three us of to sit down together and discuss this.”

CJ sighed. "It's all talk, isn't it?"

"Hey, the day after tomorrow, Leo's checking back into rehab, CJ -- I'd get a grip on it now, so you can be there for him when the time comes," Stanley said with a sigh.

"We're just tiring you out so much, aren't we?" Leo asked.

"If I wasn't too busy baby-sitting, I'd be sleeping," Stanley groused.

“Great idea there Stan, except we’re about to land,” CJ laughed.

“Don’t. Ever. Call. Me. Stan,” he snapped.

“Whoa, someone needs therapy,” CJ said, raising her hands in defence.

The car ride to the hospital was silent. Stanley closed his eyes and tried to sleep. CJ sat fidgeting with her hands and Leo just looked bewildered.

When they pulled into the hospital parking lot, CJ reached for his hand, and he entwined his fingers with hers, squeezing her hand tightly. She looked over at him and smiled a little. "I love you," she managed to say quietly.

Stanley opened one eye, then closed it again with a satisfied smirk. Maybe they'd get it right on their own -- not likely, but he could dream.

“I’ll meet you back at the house,” he mumbled.

Leo and CJ took the elevator up to the third floor and enquired at the nurses’ station. The young woman on duty pointed them in the direction of her father’s room.

Anita stood as they entered and sighed, “Thank god you’re here. Leo!” she exclaimed flinging her arms around his neck. “I’ve missed you.”

He held her tight, “I’m glad to be back. How is he?”

"Absolutely exhausted," Anita said softly. "He was worried when CJ wasn't here when he woke up."

"Well, I'm here now," CJ said, sitting beside Thomas's bedside. She smiled and took her father's hand in one hand, and used the other to smooth back his hair. "Hi, daddy..."

"My little girl," Thomas said wearily.

"Yeah, I'm here," CJ whispered. "Look who I brought with me..."

"Hi, dad," Leo said hesitantly.

"Oh thank god you came to your senses!" Thomas exclaimed. "Wow, you look like hell, Leo."

“You’re not looking so good yourself, Dad.”

“Hey, respect your elders,” Thomas chided. “Now scoot, take her home, make up.”

CJ shook her head, “I’m staying here Daddy. I want to make sure you’re okay.”

“Poppycock. I’m going to be sleeping. And if you don’t go Mom will want to stay too,” Thomas commented.

Anita glanced at CJ and shrugged, “I’m staying Munchkin.”

CJ nodded, not really expecting anything else. "Call if you need anything," she whispered, getting up to hug Anita. "Should I call you mom now?" she teased, biting her lip.

"If you want, Munchkin," Anita replied quietly.

"Okay. Love you much, daddy -- love you much... mom." CJ patted Anita on the shoulder awkwardly, then went back to take Leo's hand again. "We'll be back later," she promised.

"Not until you two do some serious making up!" Thomas ordered.

“Sleep,” Leo grumbled, “We’re gonna get some sleep first.”

Anita and Thomas shared a smile, “Yeah, morning sex is the best.”

CJ blushed and tugged on Leo’s hand to leave.

After summoning a cab he helped her inside and directed the driver back to the house.

“I’m staying at Toby‘s,” he said quietly.

CJ glanced across at him, “Oh.”

“Toby offered, it’s going to be fun, lying on the couch with Margaret and him next door,” Leo groaned.

She focused on their joint hands before she said, “You can always stay with me.”

“Is that a good idea?”

She nodded, “Stanley wants us to talk tomorrow. This way we can get an early start.”

“I won’t be a problem,” he said quietly. “I’ll be asleep as soon as my head hit’s the pillow.”

"Same here," she whispered, moving her fingers a little bit to tighten her grip. "I don't want to let go."

"What, are you scared I'm going to leave?" he asked a little flippantly.

Her eyes filled with injured tears. "Yes, I am scared you're going to leave," she snapped, pulling her hand away from his. "Don't make fun of me for it -- I feel bad enough already."

"I wasn't making fun of you," Leo protested, turning her face back toward him. "I wasn't making fun of you," he repeated, softer this time.

"Guys, if you're gonna make out in the cab, it's gonna cost ya extra," the cabbie said from the front seat.

"Oh, I think we can wait till we get home," Leo growled.

When the cab pulled up at the house Leo looked at her and grinned, “I may be old fashioned but this time you’re gonna have to pay.”

CJ pulled a note out of her purse, “Keep the change. What’s up therapy breaking the bank?” she teased.

Leo looked wounded, “No, you can have Stanley for as long as you need him. Toby took my wallet,” he added shyly.

“You organised Stanley?” she asked.

“uh-huh.”

“Oh Leo! Come on, inside.”

The answer phone light was blinking as they walked through the door.

“Leave it, Muffin.”

CJ smiled at the endearment, “It might be the hospital. I have to get it.”

She pressed rewind and John Hoynes voice filled the room.

“CJ, it's John. I really am sorry I upset you so much, and I'd like to make it up to you."

She stopped still in her tracks.

"Call me when you get back, and I'll arrange lunch or dinner. I'd love to see you again. Well, I'll talk to you soon. Goodbye."

CJ turned to look at Leo, guilt painfully clouding her eyes. "I... I'm so sorry," she whispered.

He shrugged. "You were off fucking him, and I was off drinking myself to death. We really do deserve each other," he laughed ironically.

CJ licked her lips nervously. "You're not upset?"

"Of course I am, but what's done is done." He shrugged. "Just tell me it won't happen again and I'm happy."

"It won't happen again," she promised quickly. "Um... I'm going to bed." She nervously smiled. "You can stay on the couch or in dad and Anita's room..."

"Or with you," Leo whispered, stepping closer.

“I, um, I’m going to take a shower,” she muttered, heading upstairs.

Leo waited until he heard the sound of the shower, before he headed heavily upstairs.

He stood outside the bedroom, not really sure if he wanted to go in. Sighing he pulled a blanket and pillow out of the airing cupboard and went back downstairs. By the time she stepped out of the shower he was asleep on the couch.

She fully expected to see him in their bed, and when she didn't, her heart sank in panic, sure he had left again. "Leo?" she called, fighting tears. "Leo, where are you?" She clutched the towel tightly around her as she went around the upstairs in search of him. She went downstairs and nearly wept in sheer relief of the sight of him on the couch.

She ran in and kissed him over and over again on the cheeks, the forehead, the lips, secure in the knowledge that he was actually there, and not a dream.

“What the…?” Leo yelled, opening his eyes. “Hey.”

“When you weren’t in bed I thought you’d gone? And then I started panicking,” she stammered, dropping the towel.

Leo’s eyes wandered across her body, “CJ?”

“What are you doing down here?”

He reached out to take her hand, “I couldn’t go in there. I’m not ready.”

She nodded. 'Okay -- just... just don't scare me like that," she whispered, finally letting the tears begin to fall as she hugged him tightly, burying her face in his chest, oblivious to her nakedness until he caressed her back gently.

"It's okay," he whispered, holding her close as she cried. "I'm not leaving."

“Promise?” She begged.

“I can’t promise that I’ll never have to leave you. But I’ll try to take you with me, okay?” He whispered, his hand cupping her backside.

“So you’re - -sleeping down here?” she asked timidly.

“Why don’t you go grab the comforter and we can curl up together on the floor,” he suggested, gently squeezing her behind.

She laughed through the remnants of her tears. "Is that a come on, Mr. McGarry?"

"Only if you want it to be."

"I want it to be," she whispered.

"Sometime, though, you'll have to tell me what turned you on so much about John Hoynes," he said as she stood up and wrapped the towel around her body again.

"He was there when I needed him to be," was all she said as she headed for the stairs. She came back down a couple of minutes later in a satin nightgown he had given her, carrying the queen-sized comforter from their bed.

“How was it with him?” Leo asked arranging the bedding on the rug.

“Do we have to talk about this now?” she sighed, “It was sex, nothing else.”

Leo entwined his fingers with hers and tugged her towards him, “Then I am going to make love to you, slowly.” His free hand wrapped around her waist as his lips sought hers. Slowly he bent his knees pulling her with him, until they knelt face to face on the ground. It was only then that he broke the kiss.

“I don’t have anything,” he whispered as he moved to suck on her earlobe.

“I want to feel you.”

"Okay," he whispered, kissing her gently.

"It's not like we have to worry about it now anyway," she said sadly when he let her breathe again.

"Oh, Muffin..." he whispered gruffly, pulling her into a tight hug.

"It's okay," she mumbled, running her fingers along the nape of his neck, looking deeply into his eyes. "Right now, all I need is you," she whispered.

Easing her down gently, he laid a pillow beneath her head and propped himself up on his elbow. He took his time just watching her as he stroked her face with his knuckles.

“What’s wrong?” she asked tensing up.

“I’ve missed this, us,” he said tenderly planting a brief kiss on her nose. “I want to look at you.”

She giggled and tried to reach him.

“No, Muffin.” He kissed her again on her nose before tracing the curve of her breast with his fingertips. His hand moved lower, gently rubbing against the scar he knew lay beneath the gown. All the while he kissed her face, working his way to her throat.

Her eyelids fluttered shut and she sighed happily, her hand reaching down to rest on top of his as he moved it over her belly and hip. His lips dipped into the hollow of her collarbone and she couldn't keep a gentle purr of contented excitement from escaping her throat.

Leo stopped for a minute and whispered, "What the hell was that?"

"Don't stop now," she whined. "I was liking it, Chicken..."

"Oh, you were?" he asked.

"Yeah..."

"Where do you want me to touch you?" he whispered, beginning to kiss her collarbone.

“Everywhere, I want your lips and hands everywhere, but I want to feel your skin next to me, she moaned, as his fingers stroked the inside of her thigh through the satin.

“I can do that,” he acknowledged, unbuttoning his top three buttons and pulling the shirt over his head.

His fingers moved to his belt buckle and he began to pull at the buckle. Then her hands were pushing his away.

"Let me," she whispered, holding his eyes captive with hers as her nimble fingers undid the buckle and the button. Then she was pulling down the catch of the zipper, and he felt so much muscular release as the confining jeans released him. "Is that better?" she whispered, reaching higher to stroke his chest with her fingertips.

“Oh yeah,” he moaned, his hands skimming her nightgown, until he could move his fingers underneath. “Oh baby,” he whispered against her shoulder blade, “You are so beautiful.”

His hands stroked her calves as he slowly made his way up to her thighs, and teased at the soft flesh he found. “CJ, we’re gonna have to lose the nightgown,” he growled.

She pushed his hands away and got up onto her knees before alluringly pulling the nightgown over her head and tossing it at him. "Enjoying the view?" she whispered, reaching for his boxers and gently thumbing his erection through the silk.

"It's a beautiful one, I must admit," Leo whispered, kissing her deeply. "I could look at it forever..."

“Was that a proposal?” she purred.

Leo kissed her gently on the mouth, “No, when I propose it’s going to be somewhere special, I’m going to make it a night you will never forget.”

Tears welled in her eyes.

“Hey, I love you,” he whispered, kissing the tears from her face.

Her face broke into a smile and her hand cupped his erection, her fingers teasing at the length of him.

"CJ," he said, shaking his head and reaching down to still her hand. "I want to make love to you. You. I don't want you encouraging me like that. I want to make you happy."

"Then take off the boxers -- and socks," she giggled as his fingers skimmed the skin of her belly.

His socks he removed with one hand as he brushed his other across her mound. When it came to his shorts he pulled them down with both hands and sighed as his member sprung to freedom.

Leo moved his hand back up to her stomach, running his fingers along the scar.

“We still have each other,” she whispered, placing a hand on his shoulder. Gently she pushed him back onto the floor and straddled him.

Leo protested as she took his wrists in each hand and trapped him against the rug.

"CJ!"

"What?" she asked innocently.

"I was trying to..."

"Yes, I know. But slow and steady isn't my style..." she whispered, leaning down to nibble at one of his nipples.

"How would you know if you've never TRIED!" he yelped as she clamped down hard with her teeth. It hurt, but it was the pleasurable kind of hurt that sent his cock into a frenzy, swelling until it was so hard it hurt. "God, CJ..." he groaned, grabbing her waist and rolling them over until he was on top. "Don't play with fire."

“Leo, I want you now,” she purred, “Give it to me, baby.”

Leo pushed her thighs apart with his knee and reached between them to stroke her crotch. “I’m going to show how much little me has missed you,” he crowed. He rubbed gently against her folds until she was bucking towards him begging him for more. His thumb nuzzled against her clit and forcefully he plunged his forefinger into her opening.

Her lips parted and she moaned loudly enough that Leo was afraid they'd woken Stanley. "Shh..." he hissed, covering her mouth with one hand, increasing the pressure on her clit with his thumb.

Her eyes widened and she clawed at his hand until he released her. "Don't... don't do that," she panted, grinding down onto his hand involuntarily. He twisted his finger inside her and bent to stifle her groan with his lips. And then he curled his finger within her, and she bucked her hips against him, her body

begging him to be inside her.

Neither of them heard Stanley come out of his room, go to the steps, watch them for a moment, and then go back to his room.

Leo slid his finger from within her but continued to rub her clit with his thumb. Poising himself over her opening he watched her lips curl up into a smile before he thrust into her. CJ thrust herself down onto him and he yelped.

“You gotta give a guy warning before you do that,” he muttered.

“Then take this as fair warning,” she moaned, lifting her hips, until she only held him by his tip, and slammed back onto him.

“Claudia, I can’t…” he groaned, his body reacting to her hips rocking over him.

"Then don't," she whispered, capturing his lips in a fiercely possessive kiss as she moved slowly, then faster.

He groaned and tried to keep up with her, but then she changed pace, and that was thrown to hell -- right along with the last shred of his self-control.

His body shook as he tried to prolong the moment for her, but without warning she slammed harder and harder on to his shaft and he felt the sudden rush as he spilled into her. At the first sign of his release she stiffen and fell over the precipice with him, calling his name.

He held her and whispered softly, "CJ?"

"Hmm?"

"Am I hurting you?"

"No..."

He rolled over onto his side and she snuggled up against him. "I missed you so much," he said softly.

"I missed you more," she mumbled, turning her face into his chest and inhaling deeply. "I'm sorry."

“I’m sorry too, now lets just leave it at that.” He said, kissing her hair. “We should get some sleep before Stan wakes up.”

“Mmm,” she sighed, sleepily, her eyelids drooping as she held on tightly. “Night.”

"Uh, Muffin, you're squishing my ribs," Leo laughed a little.

"So wha?" she mumbled, already well on her way to sleep.

"Nothing, nevermind," he said softly, kissing the top of her head. "Love you."

"...ove...too..." she mumbled.

He stroked her back gently until he, too, fell asleep. He was awakened by her body tensing and jerking as she woke up, a pained cry on her lips.

Leo sat up and tried to cover her body with as much of his as he could.

“CJ, it’s alright I’m here,” he soothed. “Honey, open your eyes.”

CJ continued to thrash around and he pulled the blanket around her. “STANLEY!” he yelled.

Stanley appeared on the landing, gazing down at the scene. “Hell,” he muttered.

"MOMMY STOP!" CJ screamed, pummelling Leo with her fists. He winced -- she kept hitting sore spots -- but ttried to snap her out of it.

"Claudia, it's okay," he almost shouted, grabbing one of her hands and holding it.

Stanley grabbed her other hand and grabbed her chin. "CJ, open your eyes -- NOW," he ordered brusquely. &quuot;You're safe. Leo's here. Open your eyes."

CJ blinked and stared blankly around. "Wh...what happened?" she stammered.

“You tell me?” Stanley said softly. “What were you dreaming about?”

“I…don’t remember,” she said, shaking her head. “Uh, Leo, you might wanna put some clothes on.”

Stanley glanced between them and closed his eyes, “Maybe you should both get dressed and then we can talk.”

Leo rummaged around on the floor to find his shorts. “Here, muffin, take the comforter with you, I’ll make coffee.”

She wrapped the comforter around herself and went slowly up the stairs.

Stanley waited until after she was gone before sighing. "OKay, Leo, the actual seduction part was supposed to wait a while."

He shrugged. "Sorry."

"Did you talk to her about anything before you... uh... well, did you talk to her about anything?"

"Not really, no."

“Fine, well you realise today is going to get a little emotional, maybe raw would be a better word.” Stanley rubbed his eyes, “I don’t usually allow anyone else in the room.”

“What are you going to do?” Leo asked, starting the coffee machine.

“Get dressed then WE are going to destroy and reconstruct CJ.”

"What?"

"We are going to reconstruct CJ. She's really not herself."

"No shit, Sherlock..."

"Keep reaching, Watson."

"Very funny."

"I try. Look, Leo, this is going to kill her, and I need you to be there to help her. She can't keep going like this, repressing everything that hurts her. It will kill her eventually. Mental strain hurts worse than anything else, and you know it."

“Where do we start?” Leo muttered pouring a large mug of coffee and handing it over. “Apart from the fact she’s going to resist you.”

“No woman has ever resisted me,” Stanley commented dryly.

Leo raised an eyebrow.

“I wanna start with the three things that determine who she is, her mother, the baby and you.”

He sipped the coffee and crinkled his nose, “Cream?”

Leo indicated the fridge and wandered in the direction of the stairs. “I reserve the right to pull the plug.”

"Only if she gets extremely physically violent, Leo," Stanley stipulated. "I can't have you pulling the plug every time she cries."

"Yeah," Leo agreed.

A few minutes later, CJ came downstairs, hair neatly pulled back into a ponytail, wearing a grubby pair of Michigan sweats that Leo had given her. "Can I have some coffee?" she asked quietly.

“Sure, help yourself, we’re going to get dressed,” Stanley offered, taking Leo’s arm and dragging him away.

“Hey, Wha…?”

“She needs to learn to be alone, Leo.”

They parted on the top of the stairs and when Leo came down a few minutes later, CJ was curled up on the couch Stanley beside her.

"Where do you want me to sit, Stan my man?" Leo asked.

"I thought I told you not to call me Stan," Stanley growled, and CJ giggled. "Sit over there in the chair, would you?"

"So... you're playing intermediary?" CJ asked.

"No, I'm playing Inquisitor, CJ."

“Okay,” she muttered nervously, glancing at Leo.

“Firstly Leo’s not here to help you, he’s here to help me. Secondly this is going to be hard,” Stanley pointed out. “I want to start with you mother.”

“Oh jeez, that again.”

“Yes, and until we tackle that, this isn’t going to work.”

“My mother had an episode and tried to kill me,” CJ whispered.

“So your mother hated you enough to want you dead. Because you’re worthless. Not good enough, not attractive enough,” Stanley pressed. “An ugly duckling when she wanted a swan.”

Leo raised his eyebrows and shuffled in his seat.

“You weren’t the daughter she wanted.”

"My mother loves me," CJ said very quietly.

"If she loves you, why did she try to kill you? When she attacked you when you tried to help Ben, that wasn't the first time, was it?"

"My mother loves me," CJ repeated, a little more unsure this time.

"What did you do to make her want to hurt you, CJ?" Stanley pressed.

"I didn't do anything," she protested sharply. "My mother loves me, goddamn you!"

“When you were five she pushed you down the stairs.”

“I fell,” CJ whispered.

“At two she tried to smother you, CJ, is that a woman who loves her child?”

“Shut up, I hate you,” she screamed looking towards Leo. “Stop him.”

Leo stared at her in silence for a long time before looking down at the floor.

"Is that what a mother who loves her child do, CJ?" Stanley prompted.

She covered her ears with her hands and shouted, "BASTARD! MY MOTHER LOVES ME! She loves me, damn you!"

Stanley reached out and gently pulled her hands away from her ears. She fought him, and he finally just yanked on them. "CJ, if you say it enough times, you'll believe it, but it doesn't make it true," he said quietly.

"She loves me," CJ repeated.

Stanley turned away from her, “Leo, tell me how you felt about the baby.”

Leo looked up from the floor, “The baby?”

“Stanley nodded, “CJ told you she was pregnant.”

“I knew before that,” he grinned, “I could sense her growing inside. I waited twenty eight years for another little girl.”

“And CJ, did you want the baby?”

“Yes, I course I did,” she snapped.

“Leo, did you make plans?” Stanley asked.

Leo shook his head, “It was only twenty four hours. I wanted to give her everything, though.”

“And how did you feel when they asked you to terminate?”

CJ visibly tensed, and gripped the arms of the couch.

“They didn’t ask me,” Leo said quietly. “Because we weren’t married I didn’t have a say.” Tears pricked at his eyes.

"Okay, how did you feel when you found out?" Stanley asked.

"Angry, hurt... relieved." Leo sighed.

"Relieved?" CJ repeated in disbelief. "Relieved?!"

"Yes, dammit, relieved!" Leo cried. "I was relieved that you were going to be okay -- you're more important to me than the baby was."

Her eyes widened and she stiffened visibly. She drew her knees to her chest and laid her head on them, rocking a little and fighting tears.

"I love my baby," she said almost inaudibly, over and over again like a broken record stuck on a track.

Leo, do you still want to be a father?” Stanley asked.

Leo snuck a glance at CJ and replied almost inaudibly, “Yes.”

CJ lifted her head and her eyes widened.

Stanley twisted in his seat and focused on Leo, “What do you think of CJ?”

“I love her,” he said firmly.

“She screwed another man in the back of a limo, less than a week after she dumped you,” Stanley said flatly.

“What do you want me to say?” Leo shouted. “That it disgusts me, that the idea of his hands on her drives me insane.”

"Yeah, that works," Stanley said wryly. "Just be completely honest, both of you. If you hold anything back, I'll force it out of you, and you know it. How does it make you feel, Leo?"

"I hate him," Leo growled.

"What about CJ? It's as much her fault as it is his."

"I love her -- I may hate her actions, but I love her so much it hurts," Leo whispered.

"And you still want to marry her?"

"Yes."

"And be a father with her?"

"Yes."

"How do you feel right now?"

"Sick. I need a shot or two," Leo muttered, rubbing his forehead with his sleeve.

"Well, you're not getting them. CJ, how are you feeling right now?"

"My stomach hurts," she whispered. "And I can't breathe."

"Like when you woke up that morning, with a pillow over your face?" Stanley asked gently.

She nodded and buried her face in her knees.

“What happened the day she pushed you down the stairs?” Stanley prodded.

“I fell.”

“CJ, please, tell me the truth, I can’t help you otherwise.”

"I cut my doll's hair," she whispered. "I took her upstairs to show mommy... and she slapped me. And I fell," she repeated.

"CJ, please tell me the truth," Stanley said coldly.

“She hit me so hard I landed on the landing. So she dragged me by the hair, called me a bitch and held me over the banister.”

Leo rubbed his face with his hands, trying hard not to rush across the room.

“Go on,“ Stanley pumped.

“When I tried to pull away she pushed me over,” she finished as the sobbing began. Her whole body shook as she wailed incoherently.

"Why didn't you tell your dad?" Stanley asked.

"He loves her, he wouldn't believe me," she blubbered. "I hate her, I HATE HER!" she screamed. "She doesn't love me," she whispered, sobs racking her body. "She hates me... she didn't want us... she didn't want me..."

"Okay," Stanley said. "Now we know why you're so scared of people comparing you to her. Do you think it was your fault you lost the baby, CJ? Do you think it made you no better than your mother?"

“I didn’t deserve the baby. I would have hurt her.” CJ clung to her knees, “And now I can never have another, and I’m going to lose everything I love.”

Leo was out of his chair before she finished but Stanley put a hand out to restrain him. “CJ, what is it you’re really afraid of losing?”

"My daddy -- Leo -- my baby," she babbled.

"No, CJ, it's before Leo and the baby. What are you scared of losing?" Stanley asked sternly. "What are you so scared of that you think about it every day, every night -- it's never out of your mind, is it? What is it, CJ? What are you so scared of?"

"Losing my mind!" CJ shrieked, hugging herself protectively. "I don't want to be like her, I don't want to go crazy -- I don't want to be like daddy... I don't want to forget everything I love..."

Stanley smiled across at Leo and nodded for him to move. “We’ll take a short break and get back to it.” He left the room and Leo wrapped his arms around CJ.

“Oh, Muffin,” he whispered, lifting her chin to kiss her tears. “We’re going to be okay. Whatever happens I’m going to be here for you.” He stopped and grimaced, “After I’ve done my 42 days of ‘hello, my name’s Leo and I’m an alcoholic’, that is.”

CJ allowed a small smile to cross her face, “Hello. My name’s CJ, and I’m losing my marbles.”

“Don’t ever say that,” Leo muttered. “The only thing you’re gonna lose, is control, when I go down on you later.”

"You promise?" CJ whispered.

"Yeah, I promise," he said softly, kissing her gently. "You listen to me, okay?" She nodded and he nuzzled her nose. "You are going to be just fine. I know you're angry and confused and scared, but I'm here and I love you and..."

"And it's going to be okay," CJ whispered tearfully.

"Yeah -- exactly."

“Do either of you need a bathroom break or a drink?” Stanley asked, entering the room.

Both shook their heads so he motioned for Leo to retake his seat.

“Right then, CJ can start.” Stanley turned to her and leaned forward, “What do you want from Leo?”

CJ spun her head at the change in questioning, “What do I want?”

“Yep, we’ve gone as far as we can, now it’s time to work our way outta hole,” Stanley smiled. “So apart from great sex, what do you need?”

"I... I don't know," she stammered, confused. "I never thought about it before..."

"Why not?" Stanley inquired curiously.

"Because I was too afraid he'd leave," she said, hanging her head. "I never thought he'd actually try to stay. I think that's why I pushed him away."

"Wow, that's heavy," Stanley quipped dryly.

CJ nodded and looked at Leo. "What do I need from him?"

"That is the question."

“Actually it was want,” CJ quipped, “Not the same thing, so I’ve learnt.”

Stanley rolled his eyes and motioned with his hands.

“I want him to be a part of my life, I need him to take care of me,” she said clearly.

“Vague, but okay,” Stanley sighed, “Leo, what do you want from CJ?”

“Her to trust me, to be more open. To let me love her,” he said seriously. “I want her to see me as someone who’s not just here for the next crisis.”

“I don’t,” she exclaimed, staring at him. “You aren’t just someone to pay the bills and hold my hand.”

"You could have fooled me. It's like sex, bills, and hand holding." Leo shrugged. "I need more than that, Claudia -- I need intimacy on another level."

"Beyond sex?" she asked.

"Okay, look, there is more to life than sex, CJ," Leo grunted, crossing his legs and settling in, because it was still gonna be a long ride.

“CJ, we need to address what happened the other night,” Stanley muttered, twisting his pen.

“It’s not relevant,” she insisted turning to look at him.

“Leo’s made it relevant.”

CJ shot him a glance and noted the look of anger in his eyes.

“He offered to give me anything I needed. I needed sex.”

“Who took the lead?” Stanley asked watching Leo’s face for reaction.

“I don’t know who initiated it, but I was in control,” she stated.

“That’s the problem, she always wants to be in control,” Leo growled, getting up and walking to the window. “So did he do just how you like it? Fast, furious, with no emotion?”

CJ snarled, her upper lip curling into a sneer. "Oh yeah, Leo, it was fast, it was furious, it was good. In fact, it was great. That's what you wanted to hear, isn't it? How good of a fuck he is? Well, you know what, why don't you fuck him yourself and see if he's as good as you think he is!"

Stanley leaned back into the couch and watched the exchange.

Leo took a sharp intake of breath, “You still don’t get it, do you. With John it’s a fuck, a quick leg over in the back of a limo, that’s all he wants. When I’m with you, it’s making love. I worship you, Claudia. I’m not like Toby and John, I don’t speak with words. I gave Jenny gifts and she thought I was trying to buy her.” He stopped and turned to face her, his face crimson, “With you I have to show you with emotions.”

She rubbed her forehead, just about her eyebrow, with the heel of her hand, trying to stave off a monster headache. "I... emotions just... they aren't my strong suit," she said. "And I don't know what to do when someone... just... pours them onto me. It scares the hell out of me, Leo. I'm so used to pushing people away or losing them completely that I have these walls built up, and you -- you're the first one to scale them, and I'm still terrified."

Leo growled.

"I can't change overnight, any more than you can," CJ whispered. "I'm sorry -- you have to take me as I am, and hope there's promise of change."

“NO,” he yelled, crossing the room and pulling her out of her seat, “It’s not enough. You ask me to never leave you, but you won’t give me anything in return.” He turned to Stanley and shook his head, “This seduction thing sucks. I’m going out.” Turning back to CJ he whispered, “Until you can stand in public and admit your emotions, your feelings for me, this is as far as we can go.”

He closed the door behind him.

CJ looked at Stanley for a long time. He shrugged, then she got up and ran up the stairs to the bedroom, where she collapsed on the bed with Peter Rabbit, hugging him tightly against her.

"You're the only one who loves me enough to stay," she whispered, kissing the faded grey plush toy.

Her stomach hurt badly enough that, combined with her headache, she was soon in the bathroom, throwing up again.

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

Leo drove to the hospital and pulled up in the parking lot. He sat in his car staring at the dashboard for minutes, debating whether he should go home again. He hadn’t meant to be so hard on her but he needed for her to face her feelings for him, and this way she had six weeks to do it.

He peered through the window to Thomas’ room before he entered, watching the exchange between Thomas and Anita. Quietly he opened the door.

“Hey guys, behaving?” he laughed.

“If you mean, is he chasing the nurses, not yet?” Anita giggled coming to hug him. “Where’s CJ?”

He took Thomas’ hand and held tight, “She’s at home, with Stanley.” Taking a deep breath he swallowed and said calmly, “I came to say goodbye for a while. I start treatment tomorrow, and I’m going to register as an inpatient.”

“Son?” Thomas asked, pulling himself up.

“Dad, it’s okay. I need to concentrate, and support. CJ needs to focus on you.” He pulled a slip of paper from his pocket and handed it to Anita, “This is the number if you want to get hold of me.”

Anita nodded and slipped it into her purse. "You do good, Leo," she said, hugging him. "Or, as you like to say, 'Do a job'." She smiled and kissed him on the cheek. "Guess what this crazy old man asked me this morning."

"What?" Leo asked.

"He asked me to marry him."

"WHAT?" Leo said, looking at Thomas.

Thomas shrugged. "Yeah, well, I can't live without her, and don't even wanna try to anymore."

“Congratulations, wow,” Leo stammered. “I’m really happy for you. Just make sure I get an invite.”

Thomas grinned, “I wouldn’t do it without you. You’re family.”

Leo fixed a grin, “Yeah, anyway I just wanted to check on you.” He shook the older man’s hand and motioned to Anita with his head.

Once they were outside he gave her a hard hug, “Take care of CJ for me, and use the number, that’s what it’s there for.”

“Are you sure this is the right thing?” Anita asked, confused.

Leo nodded, “Stanley’s got her as far as he can, she has to want to go further. Six weeks.”

CJ went back to work the next week, and couldn't get over Leo not being there. She had lunch with Hoynes, if for no other reason than to tell him to stay away from her from now on. She went about her daily life, her heart breaking every step of the way because Leo wasn't there.

When her father came home from the hospital, she was there for him, smothering him with attention and kisses, most of which Thomas wiped off in disgust.

And at night, she curled up on the bed with Peter Rabbit, wishing Leo were there with her.

About three weeks into his "vacation", she woke up from a vivid dream, her vision blurry with stars as she woke up in the middle of the strongest orgasm she'd ever had. Leo had been making love to her so softly, so gently, so slowly that to roll over and find him not there shook her to the core.

Pushing back the comforter she padded downstairs and stood at the window. The last time he had spoken to her he had been stood on the same spot, his voice raised in anger. Now she rested against the pane, wondering what her life would be like without him. His belongings were all in her closet; she couldn’t bear to think of them in his office.

“CJ?”

“Did I wake you?” CJ asked, continuing to stare out the window.

“Thomas needed his pain meds. Are you okay?” Anita asked softly.

The tears began to fall, unleashed by the hours she had spent with Stanley, and no longer able to hide.

“I miss him, so much.”

Anita smiled, “Three more weeks, Munchkin.” She crossed the room and wrapped her arms around CJ’s shoulders. “Is he coming here or going straight to work?”

“Work,” CJ muttered.

Anita nodded slowly and rubbed CJ's shoulder. "Poor baby," she whispered. "I don't presume to know or understand how much you're hurting, but I know if someone took your dad away from me, I would feel the same way you do right now. It's love that hurts most of all."

CJ nodded and leaned against the window. "I dreamed about him."

"Yeah?"

CJ nodded.

"Was it a good dream?"

CJ blushed, “Yeah. It made sense.”

“So do you know what to do now?” she asked softly. “Or are you going to give up because it’s too hard?”

“I have three weeks to figure that out,” CJ sighed wistfully.

“He’s counting on it,” Anita muttered, then cursed herself.

“You’ve spoken to him?” CJ asked incredulous. “They wouldn’t let me.”

Anita shrugged, “He gave me the number. I let him know about your dad, and he asks about you.”

"Oh," CJ said quietly. She took a deep breath. "If I decide it's going to be too hard, I'm going to quit my job and find another one."

"Makes sense," Anita said, rubbing her shoulder.

CJ nodded.

"Well, I'm gonna get back up there now -- maybe he's asleep again." Anita pressed a kiss to CJ's cheek.

"Night, mom," CJ said quietly.

"Sleep well, hon," Anita said, heading back upstairs.

CJ stood at the window a few more minutes, thinking about Leo, lying across the District, all alone. As she headed back upstairs she sighed, hoping that she would soon figure out what he wanted.

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

Leo stepped out of the door and breathed in the October air. It had been easier this time around, he knew what to expect and his sessions with Stanley had given him the insight he needed. The only thing he wasn’t prepared for was seeing CJ again. Toby ambled over from the car.

“Leo.”

“Hey Toby.”

“The President wants to see you as soon as.”

“It went great Toby, thanks for asking,” Leo grumbled.

"Well, I figured as much, otherwise you wouldn't be out," Toby grumped. "And Margaret says hello."

"You didn't handcuff her to your desk, did you?"

"Um... no."

"You sure?"

"Yeah..."

"Toby, what did you do?"

"Well..."

"Oh God, tell me later," Leo grumbled grumpily.

"So, you ready to go back to work?"

"Yeah."

"Good."

A while later, they were walking into the West Wing. Everyone was happy to see Leo, and he greeted them all enthusiastically, but was stricken not to see CJ anywhere.

He had his meeting with the President, then was settling back into his office when Josh came in and said, "Hey, Leo, CJ needs you in the pressroom -- now."

Leo groaned and got up. Josh practically pushed him up onto the podium stage. CJ turned to look at him, then turned back out to the press.

"Ladies and gentlemen, Leo McGarry is back from his extended vacation, and would like to say hello again," she said. "But first, I need to tell Leo something." She beckoned him forward, then took a deep breath. "Leo, I love you. I can't live without you. These last few weeks have been pure hell, and most all of it was my fault. Anything you want from me, I will give. Just don't leave me again." She knelt down and kissed his hand. "Will you marry me?"

Leo looked out at the sea of faces, poised over notebooks and waving tape recorders at him. “CJ…I”

He caught a glimpse of The President in the doorway grinning before he turned back to her. Taking a deep breath he nodded, “I asked you once before to be my wife and I’ll happily return the ring to your finger.” A collective ah filled the room. Leo extended his hand to her and pulled her up into his arms. Breaking the brief embrace he faced the Press room and grinned, “I’m sorry but my brief statement will have to wait. CJ and I have a little catching up to do…in private.”

She smiled and kissed him on the forehead. "Okay, guys, there's your picture," she called out.

"Nah, give us a real one!" someone yelled.

Leo smirked and grabbed her around the waist, dipping her low and pressing a deep, passionate, hungry kiss to her lips. The kiss lingered for a while, until Josh said, "Okay, guys, they get the point."

Leo’s hand moved to her hair as he groaned. CJ parted her lips, waiting for his tongue.

“Guys,” Josh hollered. “Will you give it a rest?”

Leo released CJ gently and they stood on the podium, grinning inanely at each other.

“I love you, CJ.”

“Leo, I didn’t know what love was until I met you, “ she replied, bending to kiss him, oblivious to the clicking going on around them. This, she thought, is what it’s all about.

The end