Christmas Without You

by: AdoreLeo

Characters: Leo, Margaret
Pairing: Leo/Margaret
Category: Romance
Rating: TEEN
Disclaimer: The characters are from the NBC, WB, TV show The West Wing; they do not belong to me.
Summary: Its Christmas time at the White House and once again something is not right.
Spoiler: Anything up to and including Abu El Banat
Feedback: I would love to hear your opinion!
Author's Note:Beta By: Lynn, who went above and beyond the call... THANKS!!!!
Additional Ideas By: Katie, who always came through whenever I got stuck. THANKS!!!

Leo can’t help but smile at the memory that Margaret was referring to. That recollection also reminded him that sometime soon, he would probably have to tell Margaret about his injuries he received during the war.

They’re about half way to her apartment when Margaret notices that Leo keeps shifting in his seat and is trying very hard not to grimace. "Leo, are you okay?"

"I’m..." he almost says fine, but it’s time to admit to her that he’s experiencing a lot of pain from his old injuries and from the fall tonight, "my hip and leg are bothering me a little."

Margaret’s shocked that Leo’s acknowledging that he’s in pain. She knows that if he’s willing to tell her, that it must be bad. "Leo, is there anything you can take or do for it that will relieve some of your pain?"

"Well, I really don’t like to take much," Leo knows he doesn’t need to explain the reason. "So I usually soak in the hot tub at the hotel."

"Leo, do you want to spend the night at your hotel?" Margaret isn’t enjoying the thought of going to his hotel, but she’ll do it, if it will help ease his pain.

"Margaret, you were so uncomfortable there this afternoon." Leo quickly turns his eyes from the road and gives her a quick look.

"Do you want to spend the night in your hotel alone?" Margaret asks, in a very worried tone.

"No, Margaret, that’s not what I meant." Leo answers back, as he smiles at her paranoid tone. "The only way that I’m staying at the hotel is if you’re there with me." He reaches out and squeezes her hand that is resting on the seat between them.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"Okay. I’ll stay at the hotel with you."

"Good."

"Can we stop by my apartment? I’d like to grab a few things that I might need.  We’re really not very far from it," Margaret says hopefully.

"You’ve already got everything I need." Leo smirks as he squeezes her hand again.

"Leo, you’re incorrigible," she returns his squeeze of her hand.

"Yeah, we can still run by your apartment."

"Great. I think I’ll pack enough for a couple of days, so that you can spoil me with room service." Margaret decides that if he is hurting enough to mention it, then he’ll probably need more than just one trip to the hot tub to relieve it.

"I can do that," Leo declares, as he brings her hand up to gently kiss. "I plan on making it my life’s goal."

"Great, I can start practicing being the fiancée of a millionaire," She smirks.

"You’re not going to let that go, are you?"

"Nope, at least not any time soon. I’m sure that one of these days you’re learn your lesson that you shouldn’t hide things from me," she smirks. "Honey, at this next light you need to turn left." She instructs him.

"Okay."

"Okay to the turn or okay to the hiding?"

"Yeah." He smirks.

"Well, which one is it?"

"Both." He softly whispers, as he kisses her hand one more time and then slowly lets go of it as he takes the car wheel with both hands again. "Now stop pestering me, I need to keep my eyes on the road."

"Okay."

The rest of the ride to Margaret’s apartment is a rather quiet one except for an occasional direction from Margaret. Leo’s acutely concentrating on his driving, since the roads are slick with snow and it’s an unfamiliar area to him. So he’s not aware of the scheming that’s going on behind the tense look that’s on Margaret’s face. She breathes a sigh of relief, when they reach her apartment building and she sees that there’s a vacant parking spot, on the street, right in front of the building. As soon as Leo starts to park his car, Margaret informs him of her plan. "Leo, I want you to stay in the car, while I run in and pack a few things."

"What?"

"I won’t be long." She’s about ready to get out of the car, but Leo’s hand on her arm stops her.

"Baby, you’re not going by yourself," he informs her.

"Honey," Margaret says softly, "you’re parked right out front. It’ll be fine. I’ll just run in and be right back."

"I’m coming too." Leo starts to reach for his door handle.

"Leo," she decides it time to be firm with him. "It’s slick out and you don’t need to take a chance of falling. Plus walking up and down the stairs isn’t going to do you any good either."

Leo stops reaching for the door and whips his head back at Margaret. "I’m not ‘that’ old yet, that you have to be worrying about me falling and breaking my hip," he tells her in a coarse voice.

"Oh, Leo, it has nothing to do with your age." Margaret reaches for his hand and continues on in a softer voice.  "Honey, I’m sorry that you took it that way. I just think there’s no reason for you to be dragging yourself in and out and aggravating your hip and leg more, especially since you’re parked right out in front of the building. I’ll be gone but a couple of minutes, anyway." Margaret tells him, as she pleads with her eyes for his forgiveness.

"You’re probably right." He concedes. "I’m sorry I raised my voice, it’s just... that, well I don’t like to think that I can’t do things because of my..."

"Honey, it’s okay. We haven’t had enough time yet together as a couple to figure out the things that bother us," Margaret says, as she continues to hold his hand and rub his knuckles with her thumb.

"Oh, Margaret, I’m so sorry, I know you would never say anything to hurt me. It’s just that... I’m really touchy when it comes to the limitations that are sometimes inflicted upon me. I know that you aren’t of aware of the things that have happened in the past that make me this way. Someday, when the time is right, I’ll tell you what I’m talking about, okay?"

"Leo, it’s okay, you’ll tell me when you’re ready."

Leo has already told her tonight that his hip and leg are bothering him, but he decides to be totally honest with her. "I’m even more irritable about it tonight, because I’m experiencing a lot of pain from them."

Margaret interrupts Leo. "Leo, do we need to go to the emergency room, maybe you did really hurt it tonight when you fell in the office?"

"No, I’m fine, well sort of. Listen, I really don’t want to go in to many details tonight, but this happens sometimes, and it’s just worse because of the fall and probably because of some of our actives over the past few hours," Leo shyly admits.

"Okay. Sometime soon we need to discuss your um... injury, but we can do that later."

"Thanks, Margaret." Leo’s relieved that Margaret is willing to let the subject drop.

"But, I do think that perhaps I may need to take a more active role in our romantic escapades, we can’t have you not being able to walk at work." Margaret tells him in her sexiest voice.

"Oh, God, Margaret, any more active and you’ll kill me," Leo beams.

"No, silly, not that way. I think that we may need to explore different... um... positions."

"Yeah?"  He says as he looks at her. Margaret has his full attention now.

"Oh, yeah," she whispers in her ear. "Maybe if you’re a good boy and you are feeling ‘up’ to it, I can introduce some of them to you tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" Leo whines.

"Yeah, tomorrow. I’m not going to be the cause of any more pain for you today."

"Oh, but Baby, some pain is worth it."

Margaret reaches out and playfully slaps his arm. "Leo, you are hopeless. Do you ever stop?"

"Not when I’m this close to such a beautiful and sexy lady," Leo reaches over with his hand and plays with her hair, eventually running his hand behind her head and pulling her to him for a gentle but intense kiss.

Margaret leans back from his kiss. "Leo, if you keep this up, we’re never going to get you to the hotel and into the hot tub for some relief."

"Okay, I’ll stop. I don’t think I could follow though with it, anyway," Leo shyly confesses.

"Because your hip and leg are sore?" Margaret asks, with some concern.

Leo shakes his head. "No, not exactly."

"Honey?"

"Something else... is a little sore," Leo timidly answers as he lowers his head and glances at the area of his body that’s sore.

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Good." Margaret lets slip out of her mouth.

"What?" Leo jerks his head back up to look her in the eye.

"That’s not what I meant... I mean... it’s just that I’m sore too and I just didn’t want to say anything." Now it’s Margaret’s turn to be shy.

"Oh Baby, you need to tell me these things. Listen, I hope you realize that last night and today was not the norm. I mean... I think it was just from years of pent up feelings that I kept under lock and key. I don’t want you to think I’m a sex..."

Margaret stops him. "Oh Honey, I don’t think that at all and don’t get me wrong, I was a very willing participant in all of our activities, as a matter of fact, I encouraged, in fact I initiated some of them. I know this is not how it’s going to be all the time. It’s new and we have hidden our feelings for many years, so... don’t worry about it."

"Hey, that’s my line." Leo chides her, as her reaches over and gently touches her face. "Margaret, what did I ever do to deserve you?"

"Funny," Margaret giggles. "I was just thinking the same thing. I love you so much Leo."

"I love you too, Baby." Leo leans over and kisses her.

"I’d better go and get my stuff. I’ll be right back." Margaret returns his kiss.

"Okay, take your time. I think I’ll call the President and Abbey and let them know of our change in plans. They might panic if they can’t get a hold of us at your apartment tonight."

"Yeah, I’m afraid that you’re in for some close scrutiny from them, for a while."

"I’m sure they won’t be the only ones watching my every move." Leo smirks.

"Well now, who might you be referring to Mr. McGarry?"  His name, ever so slowly, rolls off her lips.

"Margaret," Leo whines. "Please stop that, you know what that does to me when you call me that."

"But it’s your name, Mr. McGarry."

"Margaret." Leo growls.

"Yeah?"

"Love ya." Leo sighs.

"Love you too, I’ll be back in a flash." Margaret gets out of the car and heads for her apartment.

Leo watches Margaret enter the building and then takes his cell phone out of his coat pocket, turns it on and dials that, all too familiar, number.

"Hello." Answers his best friend.

"Hello, Mr. President," Leo replies and before he can utter another word, Jed starts yelling at him.

"Leo, where the hell of you been? Abbey’s been calling Margaret’s apartment for almost an hour. Why don’t you have your cell phone turned on? Where are you? I was getting ready to send the Secret Service out looking for you." Jed’s in rare form as he angrily fires off his questions.

"Sir, calm down. We’re fine. I forgot I’d turned off my cell phone," Leo tries to soothe his friend, because he realizes that he’s more worried than angry.

"How convenient for you," Jed retorts, since he’s still upset with Leo.

"Sir, you know, I’m entitled to a life outside the White House."

"No, you’re not," Jed starts to calm down. "You got me into this mess and you have to suffer the consequences, too." Jed teases his friend. He’s so relieved to hear Leo’s voice.

"Sir, I don’t think you should refer to the Presidency as a mess," Leo teases right back.

"Well, whatever. Hey where have you been? I called the guard desk and you guys didn’t leave the White House until a half an hour ago. Where were you?"

"For the last fifteen minutes or so, Sir, we’ve been outside Margaret’s apartment, talking." He realizes that Jed’s not going to let up on him.

"Talking, is that what they call it these days. Why didn’t you just go inside?" Jed quizzes his friend. "Hey, what kept you from leaving the White House after you left the Residence?" Jed smirks.

"Sir, we needed to stop by and pick up our coats."

"And that took you um... thirty minutes to do that."

"Well... um we sort of got sidetracked, Sir."

"Sidetracked how?"

"Sir, is there a reason why you were calling?" Leo does his best to change the subject.

"Leo, you called me," Jed whined.

"I know that, Sir, I meant before."

"Oh, yeah, Abbey went ahead and called her friend tonight, and you two have an appointment to view that condo tomorrow. Abbey said she’d come by and pick Margaret and you up at her apartment."

Leo smiles at the mention that Abbey wants to go, too. "That’s fine, Sir. What time should we expect her?"

"Here, you can talk with her." Jed turns and hands the phone to Abbey who has been by his side the second she realized that it was Leo on the phone.

"Leo, I hope you don’t mind me inviting myself along," Abbey tells her friend.

"No Abbey, I can use your help with Margaret. I’m sure she’ll need some convincing, even if she likes the condo. She’ll still think it’s too much money."

"I’ll be by at one to pick you and Margaret up. I believe the Secret Service already knows Margaret’s address," She smirks, she can’t resist getting in her own jab at Leo.

"Yeah, they do, go figure. But hey, that’s why I was calling in the first place. We won’t be there, because we’re going to stay at my hotel for the next few days."

"Okay, Leo. What made you guys change your minds?" Abbey queries.

"Changed their minds about what?" Jed, who’s standing right next to Abbey, wants to know.

"Shhh, Jethro, I’m trying to talk to Leo," Abbey instructs to her husband.

"Abbey?" Jed complains.

"They’re going to Leo’s hotel to stay, now shut up and let me find out why," Abbey tells Jed.

"Leo?" Abbey says into the phone.

"I’m having some...trouble and I need to spend some time in the hot tub," Leo finally admits and waits for her questions.

"Leo, what’s wrong?" Dr. Abigail Bartlet is about ready to blast off in full-blown doctor mode.

"My... hip and... leg are... bothering me and you know there’s not much I can do about it, other than soak in the hot tub."

"Leo, do you need to have it checked out? I know how you hate going to the doctors, but I could come over tonight and look at it, it’s not like I haven’t examined your hip before. I know there’s knowing I can do for your leg, but you could have..."

"No, Abbey," Leo interprets her. "They’ll be fine. I’m going to take some of my prescription pain reliever when I get home and then have a long soak in the hot tub."

"It must have flared up awfully fast, Leo. I didn’t notice it bothering you earlier, or have you gotten better at hiding that too!" Abbey’s also aware that it must be pretty bad for Leo to actually be taking his prescription.

"No, it started hurting after we left the Residence," Leo divulges to her.

"What happened after you left, Leo?"

"Nothing."

"Well, nothing sure did have an impact on your hip and your leg." Abbey smirks.

"I fell, okay, are you happy now?"

"Leo, are you okay?" Abbey asks, with a very concerned voice.

"Abbey, tell me what is going on?" Jed demands.

Abbey glares at her husband and slowly utters just one little word. "Present."

"Oh, yeah, right umm... sorry," Jed, whines.

"I’m sorry Leo, but Jed’s being a pain. Are you okay?" Abbey asks again.

"Yeah, I think I just bruised it."

"Leo you could have a hairline fracture or you could have caused trauma to your old injury.  Leo, it must really be hurting you if you told Margaret about it, maybe I should come over."

"Abbey, it’s not broken. I fell and landed on one of Margaret’s shoes." ‘Oh no’ Leo thinks to himself. He didn’t mean to tell her how he bruised it.

"Oh?"

"Yeah." Leo responds, hoping that she will leave it alone.

"So, you fell after you left the Residence and before you left for Margaret’s apartment?" Abbey inquirers.

"Yeah."

"So, that’s means you fell somewhere in the White House?" Abbey asks with a wicked grin on her face that only her husband can enjoy.

"Yeah."

"Possibly in your office, maybe?"  Abbey is really having fun at Leo’s expense.

"Maybe," Leo mumbles.

"And when you fell, you landed on Margaret’s shoe?"

"Yeah."

"Was her foot in it when you landed on it?"

"No." Leo wishes she would stop playing twenty questions.

"So, let me get this straight, you fell in your office and landed on Margaret’s empty shoe?" She reiterates.

"Yeah." Leo says in an annoyed voice, wishing she would just get to her point and get this torture over with.

"You know, Leo, it’s hard to walk with your pants down around your ankles, isn’t it?" Abbey smirks into the phone.

"Abbey!" Leo whines. ‘So much for her leaving it alone’, Leo thinks to himself.

"Hold on a minute, I think Jed’s going to have a heart attack if he doesn’t talk to you. Oh and Leo, maybe you two should take it easy the rest of the night and I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon at around one o’clock. Actually, I’m coming by earlier, because like it or not, I’m going to examine you!" Abbey hands the phone to her husband before Leo gets a chance to protest.

"Leo, what’s this I hear about having your pants down around your ankles?" Jed smirks into the phone.

"Oh, God, just kill me now." Leo mutters to no one in particular as he rolls his eyes. His friends aren’t going to let him forget this anytime soon. "Sir." Leo pleads into the phone.

"What’s that about God, Leo? I would think that you should be thanking him right about now!" Jed laughs into the phone.

"Sir, please." Leo knows that he’s not going to get a break.

"Leo, did you just inform my wife that you had your pants down around your ankles in your office?"

"I did no such thing, Sir."

"You mean you didn’t have your pants down in your office or you didn’t tell her you did?" Jed has a huge smile on his face that his friend doesn’t get the benefit of seeing.

"Yeah."

"Yeah, to what, Leo?"

"Yeah to, oh thank God, Sir, I’ve got to go, Margaret just came back out of her apartment building. I’ll be talking to you, Sir. Goodnight, Sir." Leo presses the end button on his cell phone before Jed can say another word. ‘Oh great’ Leo thinks to himself.

Leo presses the button that pops the trunk open when he sees Margaret leaving the building. He starts to get out and help her, as she approaches the car, but she waves him off. He settles into his seat and waits for her to get back into the car.

"Did you talk to the President?" Margaret asks, as she’s putting on her seatbelt. "I had a couple of messages from the First Lady on my machine. The last one she left, she sounded sort of panicked."

"Yeah. I talked to both of them"

"And?"

"We have an appointment to go look at the condo tomorrow and Abbey has invited herself along, so she’ll be by to pick us up at one. Well, actually she’s coming by earlier."

"Why earlier?

"Because, someone’s getting an examination courtesy of one Dr. Abigail Bartlet." Leo scoffs.

"Sounds like someone had a fun phone call," Margaret smirks as she reaches over and lays a hand on Leo’s leg.

"You don't even want to know," Leo replies.

"Okay."

Leo pulls the car away from the curb and heads for his hotel. At least this time, he’s a little surer of where he’s going. Leo’s still a bit upset about slipping and letting Abbey know what happened in his office and he knows he’s in for a thorough examination tomorrow. Leo’s been trying hard to keep the memory, of what just happened earlier in his office, from clouding his mind, but he can’t. It creeps into his mind and he smiles.

"What?" Margaret wonders as she watches Leo maneuver the car.

"Huh?"

"What are you smiling at?"

"Um... just thinking about earlier... in my office." Leo face turns a little red at the images in his head.

"Oh," Margaret coyly replies.

"Yeah."

"That was nice." Margaret comments as she reaches out and lovingly touches his arm.

"Yeah." Is all that Leo can manage to say. He wants to confess to her that it was his first time to give or receive that type of pleasure, but he’s apprehensive to tell her. How does he tell Margaret that during thirty some odd years of marriage that Jenny and he had basically made love the same way every time? It wasn’t that he wasn’t willing, but Jenny was never very receptive. He knows now, that they only ever had just sex, whereas Margaret and he make love and there is a big difference, more than he ever knew.  It’s obvious that Margaret has had more experience than him and he’s a little afraid that he may not be able to keep her satisfied. The smile leaves his face and is replaced with small grimace.

"Honey, what’s wrong?" Is it your pain getting worse?" Margaret asks. "Do you want to pull over and let me drive?" Margaret hopes that her offer to drive doesn’t upset him.

"It’s... Nothing," Leo automatically replies. "The pain hasn’t increased. I can still drive."

"Okay." Margaret decides to drop the subject.

"It’s just um... something that I need to talk to you about after we get home." Leo tells her. The word home just slipped right out of his mouth like he’s been calling his hotel their home for years. It seems so natural to him to call any place that they share, home. A smile returns to Leo’s face. Maybe it won’t be so bad to tell her after all, because she makes him feel so comfortable.

"Yeah, home," Margaret sighs back to him. It feels so good to have him call his hotel their home. It seems so natural, like they have been referring to it, like that for years.

Leo pulls his car into the hotel parking garage and parks his car in its normal space. He slowly gets out of the car. By the time he’s out, Margaret already has her bag and his bag, that he had packed for her apartment, out of the trunk and is rolling them towards the elevator. She presses the button and then turns to watch Leo limp across the pavement. It kills her to see him in so much pain. She unsuccessfully tries to keep a worried look off her face.

"Margaret, stop worrying." Leo tells her as he heads towards her and the elevator. "It’s just stiff from me sitting in the car for so long."

Margaret’s worried look quickly turns to a guilty one.

"And no, you didn’t take too long at your apartment. I was referring to the total trip in the car being so long," Leo can read her like a book.

"You think you know me so well, don’t you?" Margaret’s trying to keep the moment light hearted.

"I do."

"Well, I wasn’t worrying about you, Mr. McGarry. I was worrying about how I was going to make it upstairs without being seen," She smirks.

"You know, you’re such a terrible liar," Leo says, as he finally reaches her side.

"No worse than you."

"Maybe." Leo reaches for her hand.

"Well, you’re stuck with me, so get over it." Margaret informs him.

"Okay." Leo leans up and gives her a quick kiss.

"Leo."

"What?"

"There’s probably camera in this garage," Margaret warns him as she takes a step away from him. She has lost her earlier boldness after getting caught making out in Leo’s car by Agent Cooper.

"That didn’t stop you from attacking me in the elevator in the Residence," Leo replies offhandedly without really thinking.

"What do you mean by that?" Margaret demands as she puts her hands on her hips and starts to tap her foot.

"Ah... nothing," Leo shakes his head a little at all the things his big mouth has let slip out tonight. If he keeps this up, he will soon have no more secrets.

"Leo McGarry, don’t you give me that, what did you mean?" She’s not letting him off the hook.

"Um... there’s sort of a... hidden camera in the elevator," Leo knows he can’t win, so he surrenders.

"Are you kidding me?" She squeaks.

"No," Leo says, with an impish grin plastered across his face. It’s too late to deny it now, so he might as well have some fun with her.

"Leo," she reaches out and none too playfully slaps his arm, "you could have told me!" Margaret’s face has turned totally red.

"I couldn’t talk with your tongue down my throat, besides, I was really enjoying what your hands were doing to me," Leo beams.

"Oh, my, God," Margaret says, as the images what she did to Leo in the elevator flashes before her eyes. "I’ll never be able to look another Secret Service Agent in the face again."

"Oh, I wouldn’t say ‘every’ Secret Service Agent, Margaret. Just the ones that work in the White House," Leo informs her.

"Oh, well, so that would be what, the only ones that I only ever see everyday? What ‘was’ I worrying about! It was bad enough when Coop caught us earlier tonight in your car, now they have film of us too!" Margaret shrieks.

"Hey, I wonder if they would make me a copy?" Leo muses as he tries to avoid the slap that he’s sure is coming his way, after he makes this statement. He knows that Ron has already erased the tape, but he can’t resist teasing Margaret about it.

"LEO!" Margaret screams as she lets him have it on the arm again. Leo was unsuccessful at getting out of her reach.  "You wouldn’t dare."

"Nah, I was just messing with you." Leo laughs as he’s rubbing his arm. "Besides, they probably wouldn’t do it anyway."

"Leo, what are we going to do?"

"Baby, calm down." Leo tells her. "They keep bigger secrets than this on a daily basis."

"I’m not worrying about them telling people, Leo. But, I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to be in the same room with them again."

"It’ll be fine, stop worrying. They’ve caught the President and Abbey doing a lot worse."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"How do you know? Did a supposed closed mouth Secret Service agent tell you?" Margaret’s paranoid thinking comes shining through.

"No. Remember, I told you earlier tonight. Your President’s the biggest gossip in the White House?"

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, now let’s go to ’our’ room, so we can get ready for the hot tub. You are going in with me, aren’t you?"

"Our room?" She sighs contently.

"Yeah, our room," Leo says, as he guides her into the elevator that has finally shown up.

"Leo?"

"Yeah?"

"Yes, by the way"

"Yes what?" He asks her.

"Yes, I’m getting in the hot tub with you." She reaches over and takes a hold of his hand and gives it a gentle squeeze. Then she leans over and places a soft kiss on his cheek.

"Okay," Leo says with a smile, as the elevator doors close.

When they get to Leo’s room, Leo heads directly to the bathroom and to take some of his prescription Aleve suspension. Margaret goes to the bedroom and unpacks her bag. She hangs up her clothes and puts her under garments in Leo’s dresser. She likes the thought their items intermingling together. Leo comes back into the bedroom and he’s already in his swim trunks.

"Did you find enough room for your stuff?" Leo gingerly crosses the room towards Margaret, trying his best not to limp.

"Yes, I did." She reaches out and gently pulls him near her. "Leo, stop trying to cover it up, it’s only making it worse."

"Okay."

"Hey, I like your knees, sailor."

"Hey," Leo growls. "I’ll have you know that I was a Captain in the Air Force and I flew jets."

"Okay, so that would explain that Air Force blanket, with Captain Leo Thomas McGarry embroidered on it, in your office.  But, I still say you have cute knees," Margaret coos to him in his ear.

"Margaret?"

"Yeah."

"Can we go now?" Leo really does want to experience the relief of the hot tub and its jets.

"Just a sec, I need to put on my swimsuit."

"You don’t have to if you don’t want to," Leo grins back at her.

"Leo, it’s a public hot tub, so I think I’ll wear my suit." Margaret hurries up and puts on her swimsuit and grabs a hotel robe from Leo’s closet. "Okay, I’m ready."

They head off to the top floor private spa area, that’s located on the same level as Leo’s room. Leo has a key to the area. It’s one of the perks to being a full time resident of the hotel. They enter the spa and Leo heads over to the timer switch and turns on the jets in the hot tub. He walks back over to the tub and gingerly sits down. Margaret joins him in the hot tub and sits across from him. She watches him with concern. She’s really worried that he might have really hurt himself when he fell earlier tonight in his office. She’s glad to know that Abbey’s going to be examining Leo tomorrow. Abbey won’t pull any punches or put up with his evasiveness.

When Leo first gets in the hot tub, he’s fidgety and uncomfortable, constantly shifting positions, looking for a more comfortable one. After a few minutes, his pain starts to dissipate and he’s finally able relax a little. He doesn’t question whether the relief is from the Aleve, the hot tub or a combination of them both. He’s just content to be able to settle down and enjoy Margaret’s company.

Margaret notices the change in Leo’s behavior and gives him a smile. She’s very happy just to sit here and take pleasure in this peaceful moment. It’s been a long day for them both and they still have a lot to talk about tonight, but for right now, they’re just soaking and taken a breather.

"Margaret, what ya thinking about?" Leo asks, as he motions for her to move over by his side.

"Oh, I was just thinking how incredibly lucky I am." She slides over to his side and leans against him.

"Lucky huh?"

"Oh yeah," She proudly announces.

"Okay."

"Honey, what are you thinking about?" Margaret asks the love of her life.

"The same thing you are."  Leo puts an arm around her and pulls her closer into his side.

"Okay."

They sit side by side, without talking, like this for a few minutes until Leo breaks the silence.

"Margaret, I know that we’ve known each other for a long time, I mean you’ve worked for me for, what, over twelve years now? But, there’s so much that we really don’t know about each other and I just wanted to let you know that I want to spend the rest of my life getting to know you, loving you and taking care of you."

"Oh Leo, I feel the same way too," She agrees, as she raises her head off his shoulder and gives him a kiss on the cheek.

"We have a lot of things to figure out and I know some people are going to think we’re rushing things, but I don’t care. I need to be with you." Leo justifies, with a serious tone. "We need to decide when we’re telling the staff and I need to talk to Mallory."

At the mention of Mallory’s name, Margaret stiffens a little. She’s nervous that Mallory will be upset with their relationship. Mallory and her have always gotten along really well, but for some reason Margaret’s worried about what Leo’s daughter will have to say about them.

Leo feels the change in Margaret’s body. "Baby, what’s wrong?"

"Nothing."

"I know you better than that, what going on?"

"I’m... worried that Mallory won’t be receptive to us."

"Baby, Mallory’s always loved you, why would you think she won’t be glad that we’re together?"

"I don’t know, I guess maybe I’m being silly, but I don’t want to come between you and her. I sometimes get the impression that she still hopes that you and Jenny will get back together."

"Well, she can hope that all she’s wants, but that’s not going to happen," Leo dismisses in a firm, but loving voice. "I love you and soon, you’re going to be Mrs. McGarry, Okay?"

"Okay."

They sit back in the tub and hold hands. Margaret feels Leo’s ring as she is running her thumb across his knuckles. "Leo, Can I ask you a question?"

"Yeah."

"I’ve umm... I just wanted to know why you still wear... your ring?" Margaret stutters, as she dips her head as she asks him.

Leo lets out a sigh and reaches over and lifts her chin towards him with his fingertips. "Baby, I’ve worn this ring for several different reasons over the years. There are far too many reasons to go into tonight, but I will tell you why I’ve worn it since the divorce." Leo pauses as he collects his thoughts. "At first I did wear it in hopes that Jenny and I would get back together. She was all I knew and I missed having someone to come home to at night. It was that hope that kept me going those first few months after she left." Leo becomes silent and lowers his head. He knows that the next part is going to trudge up some bad memories, but he has to tell her.

Margaret reaches out to Leo and lifts his chin.  She gently strokes her fingertips on his cheek. "Leo, it’s okay to tell me or if you want you can stop. Either way, I know you love me."

Leo nods his head. "On the night of the shooting, I realized that it was really over. This woman who I had been married to for over thirty years, who’s the mother of my child, and who had stayed with me during my worst, didn’t even call to see if I was alive or okay." A single tear makes its way down his face. "When I got back to the White House, there you were, by my side, supporting me through it all. During the next few weeks I started to develop feelings for you and then the day that divorce papers came, I realized that I loved you. But, I decided that I was no good for you and would probably end up hurting you like I had Jenny. I didn’t feel like I deserved happiness, so I continued to wear the ring to remind me that I couldn’t hurt you the way I did Jenny."

"Oh, Leo," she whispers. "Why would you feel that you didn’t deserve any happiness?"

"I’ve made so many mistakes in my life that..."

"Honey, everyone makes mistakes. You deserve happiness just as much as the next person."

"I realize that now Margaret, it’s just that I’m still a little afraid that I’m going to hurt you the same way I did Jenny."

"Leo, I’m not the same person as Jenny. We aren’t the same couple as you two were. It takes two people to make a marriage and two people to cause a divorce. You need to stop taking the total blame for this."

"I’ll try. I will take this ring off, soon. I just have a couple of things to work out and I think I already know what I’m going to do with it, I just need some time." Leo looks into Margaret eyes in search for understanding and he finds it.

"Leo, I know you will. I love you." Margaret gently caresses his face and leans in and kisses his cheek. "Besides, if you take it off before we tell the staff, it might arise suspicion."

"Margaret, you always know what to say, don’t you."

"I have to," she smirks. "I work for that irascible White House Chief of Staff, Leo McGarry."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"I hear he’s quiet a hand full." Leo smirks as he pulls Margaret into to his arms and holds her tight.

"You have no idea." Margaret laughs.

They have been soaking for a while now in the hot tub. Leo’s feeling much better now and he thinks that it probably about time they headed back to their room. But, Leo needs to tell Margaret something and he has spent these past few minutes trying to come up with a way to tell her about an event in his past. He needs to tell her about that night in Saint Louis, the night of the final debate. Only two people, well actually a few more after the hearings, know what happened that night in that hotel. He’s kept it as secret from her for years, but he knows that that can’t have secrets between them anymore. Leo shifts his position in the tub so that he is facing her.

"Margaret, I umm... need to tell you something." The tone of his voice turns very serious.

"Okay." Margaret has a bad feeling in her stomach, whatever he’s about to say must be bad by the way he is acting.

"Remember during the hearings when Gibson was questioning me?"

"Yeah."

"He had something on me and was going to embarrass me on national TV." Leo pauses and then continues. "On the day of the last debate, in Saint Louis, I met with a couple of CEO’s and Gibson..."

Margaret interrupts Leo. "Leo, I know. You were drinking that day."

Leo’s surprised that she knows. "Who told you?"

"Honey, no one had to tell me. I could tell," Margaret explains.

"Why didn’t you say something?"

"You were beating yourself up pretty bad already, so you didn’t need any help from me."

"You know Jenny doesn’t even know about that night. The only people who knew were Josh and Jed. I went to Jed that night and tried to quit, but he wouldn’t let me..."

"Leo, it doesn’t matter now."

"Margaret, I’m an alcoholic and I always will be."

"I know that. I love you and always will. Leo, there’s something that I need to tell you."

"Okay."

"You know these past few months I have been really worried about you. You weren’t acting yourself and you were irritable and I ...."

It’s Leo turn to interrupt Margaret. "Baby, are you trying to tell me that you’ve been searching my office and hotel room for signs of drinking?" Leo smirks.

"How did you know?"

"Well, I’ve caught you a couple of times at the office."

"You never said anything."

"Yeah, well, if figured that even if I did you would still worry and look for signs. Besides it was fun trying to catch you and hear some of the lames excuses you’d come up with." Leo smirks through his grin.

"My excuses were never lame." She teases back. "I always had well thought out ones before I would search your office."

"Oh yeah, I especially loved the time I caught you sitting in my chair, apparently having just searched my desk drawers, and you told me you where checking to make sure that my chair didn’t squeak."

"Well, the Chief of Staff can’t have a squeaky chair."

"I suppose not."

"How did you know I was checking your hotel room?"

"Every time you did, I could smell your perfume when I got home at night."

"And you never said anything."

"I liked smelling your perfume in my room, it made me feel closer to you and it..." Leo stops talking. "Baby, let’s get out of this tub. I want to tell you something else," Leo holds his hand up to her face. "It’s nothing bad, it’s just something I don’t want to talk about here. Besides, if we stay much longer we’re going to look like prunes."

"Okay."

On the way back to Leo’s room, Margaret notices that Leo is moving a lot better and seems to be in a lot less pain. Someday she’s going to get him to tell her what had happened in the war, but not tonight or probably any time soon.

Once they get back they change into comfortable clothes and head for the couch. Leo has on his Air Force sweats and Michigan sweatshirt and Margaret is also wearing sweats and a campaign sweatshirt.

"Leo, we still haven’t opened our presents yet."

"Do you want to now?" Leo asks.

"Yeah"

"Okay, I’ll get them." Leo offers.

"Leo, let me get them. You..."

Leo stops her. "Margaret, I’m not an invalid yet, and besides it’s best if I keep moving after soaking in the hot tub."

"Okay, sorry. I wasn’t trying to imply..."

"Margaret, I know." Leo says, as he goes to the bedroom. Leo walks into his bedroom to get the presents and notices an addition on the bed. He walks over, picks it up and inspects it. It’s an old fashion bear with rimed glasses and it’s wearing a black tux He heads back out to the living area. "Margaret, What’s this thing doing on our bed?" He asks, as he holds it out to her.

"Leo, don’t call Thomas a thing," She reaches out and takes the bear from Leo. "You’ll hurt his feelings. Sorry, Thomas, the mean old man didn’t mean to call you a thing."

"Thomas?" Leo huffs out his response as he sits down.

"Yeah, Thomas. I um... always sleep with him," She says as she gives the bear a squeeze.

"Always sleep with him?" Leo asks as the grin on his face grows.

"Yeah. You should be thankful that his name isn’t Ronald." Margaret smirks.

Its takes a few seconds for Leo’s mind to come up with the person to match who she hinted at. "You mean, as in, Ron Butterfield?"

"Yeah."

"You and Ron, I never knew... when..."

Margaret interrupts him, "You are far too easy." She says while shaking her head. "I was only teasing you. There has never been everyone, besides you, that I want to name anything after. In all my dreams it has always been you."

"What kind of dreams?" Leo smirks.

"Not the kind you think! Leo, you are terrible. I mean when I thought about me having.... umm... kids."

"You mean, you’ve thought about us having kids?" Leo asks as his face lights up from the thought of Margaret carrying his child.

"Well, yeah... I’ve day dreamed about it...  Leo it's.... just... I mean." Margaret really doesn’t know what to say. She’s worried that Leo is going to be upset about this. He may not want any more kids.

"Baby, don’t worry about it. We can talk about this later, But, I do want you to know that the thought of you carrying my child, makes me extremely happy."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Okay, we can discuss this later." Margaret leans over and gives Leo I quick kiss on the cheek and then hands him Thomas. "Here get acquainted while I go get the presents that you forgot."

Leo gives Margaret a smirky grin, but he takes the bear. He looks it over and then tells it, "You’re going to have to start sharing the bed with me, fella."

Margaret comes back into the room and places the presents on the coffee table in front of them and then sits down next to Leo.

"Remember Baby, I still owe you a present." Leo reminds her.

"What do you mean you still owe me a present?" Margaret inquires.

"Baby, I still owe you a ring." Leo informs her with his widespread trademark grin on his face.

"Yes you do and you’re not getting out of it either."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"Okay. Let’s go shopping tomorrow for it."

"Leo, do you think you’re going to feel up to doing that and looking at the condo."

"Margaret, I’m fine. I just bruised it. You getting as bad as Abbey when it comes to my hip and leg."

"You said earlier that she’s coming by tomorrow an examining you before we go look at the condo, right?"

"Yeah."

"Okay, I’ll feel better after she gets a chance to check it out." Margaret happily announces.

"Well, I’m glad one of us will." He groans. He’s not looking forward to be probed by Abbey, plus the last time she examined his hip, it hurt worse afterwards. "She doesn’t even come close to the pleasant bedside manner that you have." Leo smirks.

"I would hope not!" Margaret advises.

"Hey lets get these presents out of the way and then head off to bed. I want to spend the rest of this Christmas Day, holding you in my arms."

"Okay, I like the way you think." Margaret reaches out and picks up one of the presents for Leo and hands it to him. "Here open this one first."

Leo takes the present and unwraps it. "Oh Margaret, did you make this?" Leo asks as he pulls the winter muffler out of the box. "This matches my camel overcoat perfectly."

"Yes, I knitted it." She proudly admits.

"I love it, Baby. Hey, weren’t you wearing this last night I came to your apartment."

"Yeah, I was trying to feel close to you," she shyly discloses.

"Yeah?"

"A huh, I was..." She stops.

"Baby, you were what?"

"I was pretending that it was your arms around me," she timidly confesses as she lowers her head.

"Oh baby, that’s so adorable," Leo takes the muffler and puts it around his neck. The scarf smells like Margaret’s perfume, he takes a deep breath of that wonderful smell. "Every time I wear this, I will be reminded of that wonderful night and the start of our relationship."

Margaret raises her head and looks at him. "Leo, what a nice thing to say. Do you really like it?"

"Yes, Baby, I really like it."

"Here open your other present too."

Leo unwraps the small box to find a pair of onyx cufflinks. "Thank you Margaret, you remembered that I lost one of my onyx ones."

"Can’t have you wearing your favorite suit without your onyx cufflinks," she says as smile crosses her face.

Leo reaches and gets the present that he bought her. "Here, I hope you like it and tomorrow we will go get something to match it."

Margaret gives Leo a puzzled look as she takes the present and starts to unwrap it. It doesn’t surprise her to find that the box is from his favorite local jewelers. She opens it. "Oh Leo, it’s beautiful." Margaret stares at the beautiful cross hanging on the white gold box chain. She picks up the necklace.

"If you don’t like it we can exchange it for something else. Or if you want, we could always go to Harry Winston’s and get something for you there. We might even find a ring there, too."

"No Leo, I love it. Thank you. I don’t need something from Harry Winston’s, I’m very happy with this and I’m sure we can find a ring here in town." Margaret smiles at him as she hands it to him. "Here, will you help me put it on?"

Leo takes the necklace and drapes it around her neck and fastens it. He can’t resist tracing her collarbone with his fingertips. Then runs them up her chin and leans in and brushes a gentle kiss against her lips. "It looks great on you." Leo pauses, leans back a little and then somewhat tersely says, "Much nicer than that gold ‘Margaret’ necklace you sometimes wear."

"Leo?"

"What?" He scoffs.

"I thought you liked Bruno Gianelli."

"He’s a great strategist." He admits.

"Why do I hear a but at the end of that?" She quips.

"But, he wasn’t right for you."

"Leo, I only went out with him a few times. He always treated my very nice and took me to some very expensive restaurants."

"Was he one... of the ones... that you umm... used to distract yourself from me?" He shyly asks.

"Yes, Bruno and I slept together," she confesses.

"Margaret, you didn’t have to say it out loud!" Leo growls.

"Leo, talking about it or not doesn’t change the fact that it happened." Margaret collects her thoughts. She needs for Leo to know that Bruno wasn’t just a one-night stand. "I thought there for a while that he might be able to help me get over you, but, then he turned out to be like all the others in my life. He soon tired of me and moved on."

"Well, that’s his loss. Margaret, that will never happen to me. You have worked for me for years and I have never once gotten tired of seeing you or being around you. Now, you sometimes have tried to make it your life’s goal to drive me crazy." Leo has a huge grin on his face. "But, I love ever minute of it and wouldn’t have it any other way." Leo leans over and gives her a kiss on the cheek. "Ya know, I might be able to afford to take you to some expensive restaurants, too sometimes." Leo smirks.

"Leo you can be so sweet and then so silly sometimes."

"Yeah, well do me one favor though, could you please not wear that necklace anymore?"

"I’ll make you a deal, when you stop wearing your wedding ring, I’ll put away that necklace."

At first Margaret words hurt Leo, but then he realizes she has every right to have said that. She wasn’t trying to hurt him. She was just letting him know that the necklace was still important to her too. "It’s a deal, Baby."

"Do you want to shake on it or kiss to seal the deal?"

Leo holds out his hand. "Let’s shake on it."

Margaret is surprised by his actions, but holds her hand out to him. "Okay."

Leo quickly grabs her and pulls her over to him. He touches the side of her face with his fingertips and leans in towards her. His hand moves from her face to the back of her head and he gently pulls her to him. Their lips meet and they slowly start to kiss one another. The kiss intensifies after a few seconds and Margaret opens her lips and wills Leo to explore her mouth. After a few minutes of kissing, they pull apart. Margaret notices that there is pain showing in Leo’s face again.

"You should get into bed, I think you'll be much more comfortable there." Margaret continues, Leo reluctantly agrees allowing Margaret to help him up off the couch. His hip and leg have stiffened up a little since they have been sitting on the couch for a while.

They walk into the bedroom and Margaret goes to grab something she brought from home to help with the soreness and pain that he is experiencing.  "Leo, what do you usually sleep in, when I’m not here.  I mean do you sleep in pajamas or just your boxers or a t-shirt."

"Well, when I’m on the road around the staff I sleep in pajamas but usually here I just sleep in boxers and a t-shirt, but with you I might relent and sleep just in my skin.  I want to feel my body next to yours like we have for the last couple of days."

"Well, I have no complaints about that but for tonight I want to put some Icy Hot on your leg and hip to keep it warm, so you should probably sleep with your boxers or pajama bottoms on to prevent the ointment from going all over the place.  Do you want for me to massage some it into the sore areas?"

"Yeah, I guess. I haven’t used that cream before, maybe it will help," he tells her. "I can sleep in my boxers tonight.

"Okay, You will have to let me know where you need it the most.  I also made an appointment for the hotel masseur to come here for 11:00 a.m. to loosen the area up for your day.  Maybe he can show me how to help you out between massages.  I think you should have regular ones to help with the tightness that I suspect you experience in your body from your injuries. It might help prevent some of the times when your leg or hip bothers you." Margaret rattles off her suggestions without even taken a breath, as she takes control of his well-being.

"Could you send me a memo on this?" Leo smirks.

Margaret continues on, having not been discouraged by Leo’s smartass comment. "If it’s a matter of time, we can arrange for someone to come to the office and do it there or at the apartment at night.  I can arrange your schedule for the day that the massage therapist comes. We can arrange a time and have a portable table kept in your office closet and lock the doors for the hour-long appointment.  I think it would help with your stress level as well."

Leo has been listening to her rattle off her list of things that she wants him to start doing. He can’t help but grin at how she has taken over control of his life in such a short time. He loves it. "Okay, whatever you say, Baby."

"Okay then, go strip down and lie on the bed while I get the jar," she says as she heads to the closet to get the Icy Hot. 

"I like the clothes off part," Leo smirks as he quickly strips down and lies on the towel that Margaret has placed on the bed. 

Margaret walks back over to the bed and sits down beside Leo. "It’ll feel cold at first then it will get warm and stay that way for a while.  This company has some patches that you can wear under your clothes that will keep the area warm for a while, too.  If warmth helps with the pain then maybe they can use this to help between the hot tub sessions."  She explains.

"Patches?" Leo asks.

"Yeah, they stick to you like band-aids." Margaret takes a small amount of the cream from the jar and before she puts any on she asks him, "Leo you need to show me exactly where it hurts the most.  Not just from tonight’s pain but in the usual areas, as well."

Leo’s not sure how much he wants her to know about his pain, but she wants to help him and they are together now.  She will be watching him a lot closer now.  He is still warm from the hot tub and so he feels not so bad but he knows the pain will return as soon as the warmth wears off.  Maybe it is time to explore some alternatives for his pain relief.  He hates to take medications and he doesn’t have a lot of time to spend on this but now that she knows, maybe she can coordinate things for him better. He reluctantly points out the areas, she can see the beginning of a bruise on his hip but he also points out his lower leg and the top of his thigh and the length of his incision on his leg, as well as his buttocks on one side near the sciatic nerve. 

"Okay, are you ready?"

"Yeah."

She starts to rub the cream into his lower leg and hip. She is being very gentle and not pressing too hard.  The cream does feel cool at first but now he can feel it getting warm, she continues to increase the pressure and now it is really hurting where she presses.  She wants to help, but the area is really sore tonight.  He is hesitant to make her stop, when he seems to relax into her strokes she increases the pressure and a larger area as she gets more cream and continues to massage him.  He has been quiet for a little while and she thinks he may have fallen asleep but when she looks at him and sees that his eyes are closed but tears are running down his face. 

She leans over and asks him, "Leo, what’s wrong?"

 He says that,  "It’s just... it’s... so sore."  He knows it needs be done, to loosen up the tight areas but it still hurts.  He’s trying to hide his pain from her.

"Honey, you can’t try and hide the pain anymore." She stops massaging his hip. "Okay I will stop for now but I want to give you a back massage to help you relax but I will stay away from your hip for tonight.   We will have the masseur show me some things to work on you between professional massages.  Okay?"

"Okay, I’m sorry, I just... it’s been a long time since anyone has cared or tried to help me with this. I’m just so use to trying to ignore..." Leo stops. He has so many bad memories about how he received his injury in Vietnam, and then years later the hip replacement surgery that was a direct result from his leg injury and how Jenny couldn’t deal with any of it at times. "I really don’t want to talk about this tonight. I will tell you sometime, but just not tonight," Leo pleads with her.

"Honey, it’s okay." Margaret tells him as she wipes off the excess cream off her hands. "Let me help you get your boxers back on and then I can massage your back some. Okay?"

"Okay," he softly replies as he lets her help with his boxers. He turns over to his stomach and Margaret begins to massage his back, gentle but firm strokes to help relax him.  He needs this and she is now glad that she has booked his massage for the morning. She continues the back rub for a few minutes then leaves him resting, and she goes to grab her pajamas and discovers that they aren’t there.  She forgot them.  She’ll have to find something of Leo’s to wear, maybe a t-shirt and her panties or maybe a dress shirt.  It will cover her up a bit more.  She grabs one of his shirts and heads for the bathroom.

Margaret goes in to the bathroom to wash her hands, brush her teeth and remove her makeup. She’s putting her stuff on the vanity when she notices a bottle of medicine sitting there. She picks it up and reads the label. It is prescription strength liquid Aleve. Margaret just stares at the bottle for a while. She takes the bottle and goes back out to the bedroom. 

"Leo, what’s this?" She holds the bottle out for him to see.

"Hmmm" He says, as he is just about half asleep.

"This." Margaret has moved closer to the bed and is holding the bottle directly in front of his face now.

"It’s a bottle of medicine," He smirks as he rolls on to his good side.

"I can see that," she quips.

"I always said that you were observant."

"Leo?"

"Yeah?"

She walks over to the bed and sits down next to Leo. "Care to explain?" She asks him in a worried voice.

"Not really, but it appears I have no choice." Leo looks at Margaret who is agreeing with him. "I’m sure you’re already guessed that it’s for pain relief."

Margaret bobs her head.

"From time to time, I have trouble with my hip and leg. Hence, the pain medicine." Leo relents.

"Leo, I’ve never seen you take this at work."

"You know that I really don’t like taking medicine," Leo pauses, "I only use this when it gets bad and I can’t sleep because of the pain."

"Leo," Margaret reaches over and gently traces his jaw line with her fingertips. "Just how much pain are you in all the time?"

Leo stares deep into her eyes and finds so much love and concern that it almost makes him shudder. There are some things that he’d rather that nobody knows about him. But, Margaret is going to be his wife and she has the right to know. "A moderate amount," He finally acknowledges. "It just depends on some factors."

"And they are?"

"The weather, lack of exercise, certain activities, lack of sleep, old age," he rattles off the list quickly.

"Well, the weather and your age are things we can’t control, but the other reasons can be worked on. What kind of activities are you referring to?"

"Well, prolonged standing is one thing that causes me trouble."

"Okay."

"Stairs can be... a challenge, sometimes."

Margaret nods her head and adds another item to her mental list.

"Running is something I shouldn’t be doing." Leo thinks of Zoey's kidnapping and slightly frowns.

"I’m sure that falling on concrete wasn’t something that helped, either." Margaret was also thinking about his run through the West Wing.

Leo nods his head. They both had been reflecting about the same incident. "No, it didn’t. Or falling in my office tonight."

"Okay, so what other activities?"

"I think I’ve covered them all."

"Leo, why do I have the feeling that you're holding back from me?"

"Margaret why are you so suspicious?"

"Cause, when it comes to you, it’s the only way to be."

"Yeah. Well, I can’t have you knowing all my secrets."

"Leo." She pronounces every letter very slowly.

"Okay. Strenuous activities can sometimes cause me some trouble."

"And by trouble, you mean pain?"

Leo nods his head. "Yeah."

"Strenuous activities would include making love?"

"Yeah, sometimes." Leo shyly nods his head again and then looks up at her. "But, if you think I’m giving that up, well, you’re crazy."

"Don’t worry Honey, I’m not going to suggest that," Margaret pauses, she’s never really talked about intimate details that much before with a partner and is a little inhibited about the whole thing. "But, I think we could do things... differently sometimes."

"Differently?"

"Yeah."

"How so?"

"Um... as in... different positions."

Leo stares at Margaret with a very puzzled look.

"Honey, what I mean is, you don’t always have to be the man."

"I don’t, well I sorta think that the boat has already sailed on ..."

"Leo, I meant you don’t always have to be on top!" She says, in an exasperated voice.

"Oh, sorry," Leo shyly says.

"Have you taken some tonight already?" Margaret asks with concern because if he hasn’t she was going to make sure he does.

"Yeah, first thing, as soon as we got back here tonight," he replies quietly.

"Okay, great.  At least I won’t have to force it down your throat.  You should take it regularly for the next several days until the pain from the fall settles down.  It says that on the bottle.  I see you have some refills for it, too.  We can pick up a couple of them and leave one at the office and have a fresh bottle here or at the apartment. This one is running low anyway," Margaret says as she takes charge of his life.

Leo grins back at her. He loves it when she takes control. . He wouldn’t have it any other way.  She has always been the one who was always there. Always ready to sacrifice for him, always willing to take care of him, always standing by his side, no matter what. How did he ever get so lucky? He loves her so much and can’t wait to start taking care of her now. It takes a few seconds, but it finally dawns on him. She is wearing, one of his shirts and nothing else, that he can tell.  His grin gets wider and he runs a finger up her leg to check for sure to see what is under his shirt. He can’t help but comment. "That shirt looks better on you than it does on me."

She catches his finger and looks him in the eye before he gets off topic.  "Leo, we’re going to have to work on changing some aspects of your lifestyle."

"Why did I know this was coming? Am I going to get a memo on this?" He smirks.

"Count on it."

"Yeah?"

"You bet your ass."

"Okay," Leo grins back at her. "Now can we discuss what you’re wearing?"

"Maybe," she smiles back. "But let me finish up in the bathroom first."

"Okay."

Margaret comes back out of the bathroom and slips into bed, next to Leo. They Leo lay there on the bed for a while just listening to each other’s heart beats. They both are thinking about the events that have occurred these past couple of days and some things that they still need discuss.  Leo needs to confess his fears about whether he can keep her satisfied. Margaret wants to discuss their wedding. The more she thinks about it, the more she realizes she would like a Rose Garden Wedding. Leo is the first to break the silence.

"Margaret, remember earlier on the way to the hotel when I told you there was something I needed to talk to you about?"

"Yeah."

"Well, it was sorta along the lines of our earlier conversation about positions. Um... you know in my office earlier tonight when you... um... did that thing to me. Well, that’s the first time anyone’s ever done that to me."

"Really?"

"Yeah, that’s why it didn’t take me very long to um... you know, and it was just so... um... very enjoyable." He turns slightly red.

"Oh."

"Yeah, and when I returned the favor, that was... another first for me. So I probably owe you an apology for not being very good, I really wasn’t sure what..." He shyly confesses.

"Leo, you were wonderful. I can’t believe you never did that to someone before, you were very talented."

"Margaret, I never realized what making love meant until we made love. I’ve only ever had sex before, but now it so much more... I don’t know how to put it, but I’ve never felt like this during it or afterwards. You know I was married for over thirty years, but we did things the same way and well... um... Jenny never really seemed to enjoy it that much, so I always thought that it was because... I was... inadequate."

"Oh, Leo, you are anything but inadequate..."

Leo puts a finger to her lips to stop her. He needs her to know his doubts. "I’ve only been with two other people and I’m... afraid I won’t be able to keep you... satisfied..."

It's Margaret’s turn to interrupt him. "Leo, I have never been with anyone that has taken me to the heights that you have. You have thrilled me beyond belief. You are the most caring, sharing and giving lover that I have ever been with." Margaret decides to lighten the subject. "Not to mention the fact that you have the... that you are... um... that... um..."

"Have what?"

"Nothing, Baby."

"What, tell me?" Leo grabs her and pulls her further onto the bed and starts to tickle her.

"Leo," she can barely talk, "stop it."

"Tell me," Leo says while dodging her flailing elbows.

"Okay, but stop first."

"Okay, I stopped. Now tell me."

"Your um... equipment is a sorta..."

"Sorta what?" Leo is starting to be leery about what she is going to say. His self-esteem, when it comes to this, is pretty low after all those years of being with Jenny and her being so uninterested.

"On the larger side."

"Really?"

"Oh, ...well... yeah. You really didn’t know, did you?"

Leo shakes his head. "It’s not like we stand around and ya know ... compare." Leo says as he points to the subject matter. "I always just thought I was average."

"Oh, Leo, no. You are far above the average." Margaret smirks.

"Well, I guess I’ll just have to take your word for it." Leo smirks as he pulls her to him and kisses her sweetly on the nose.

"Yeah, no need for any second opinions. I definitely have no complaints," Margaret smirks back to him.

"Are you sure? I mean, you might be wrong. I could always find someone else and she could validate it."

"Leo," Margaret laughs as she pushes him over on the bed and proceeds to tickle him.

"Hey, stop it..." Leo’s overcome with laughter. Margaret is relentlessly tickling him on his side and he can’t stand it.

"Are you willing to agree that we don’t need anyone’s else’s opinion."

"Yeah," Leo chuckles, "please stop." He pleads.

"Okay." Then it dawns on her, Leo’s sore hip and leg. "Oh, Honey, are you okay? I totally forgot about your..."

 "Baby, it’s fine." Leo interrupts her. "I just can’t stand to be tickled on my sides."

"Okay, that’s good to know." She laughs.

"Baby," Leo pulls her on top of him. "I love you so much."

"I love you too." This is the Leo she always imagined, the fun loving playful one. She always thought that he was hidden away deep inside him. "Leo, I do have something that I would like to talk about, though."

"What sweetie?" Leo reaches over to Margaret face. He takes a strand of hair and places it behind her ear and then runs his fingertips down her jaw line.

"I’ve been thinking about our wedding date," Margaret pauses. "I think Valentine’s Day is going to come awfully quick and ..."

Leo stops her with an unexpected kiss on the lips. He leans back from her and gazes into her eyes. "Baby, let’s just wait until April and have the Rose Garden wedding that you’ve dreamed of."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I can wait, besides we’re going to be living together. You’ll be with me every night in my arms and that’s all that’s really important, so I can wait until the spring. Besides it’s always so pretty during cherry blossom season."

"Leo, I realize that a Rose Garden wedding is a fairy tale dream. You know that there has only been a hand full of them and they have all been family members of the President that have gotten married."

"Margaret let me talk to the President and see what he thinks. I bet he would love it. I know the Secret Service would. Besides, we don’t have to make a big deal about it. I kinda thought it would just be a few staff members and family only, no press."

"Oh Leo, that’s what I want too. A small intimate wedding." Margaret pauses. "Leo, are you sure you want to wait?"

"Yeah," Leo answers.

"Oh, Leo, thank you. I love you."

"I love you too, Baby."

"Leo, this is so nice just lying here with you."

"Ya know, it’s hard to believe that just two short nights ago, I laid here in bed and thought about you." Leo pauses as he reflects about that night. "There was a song on the radio and it made me... well it was about someone spending Christmas without someone and it made me think of you and me."

"Christmas Without You," Margaret scoots closer to Leo and wraps a leg over him. "I heard that same song two nights ago too and I felt the same way, too."

"That night I had the most intense dream about you," Leo confesses.

"You’re kidding."

"No."

"I had a dream about you that night, too. It was very passionate. I woke up during the most intense experience I ever had from a dream."

"I had something similar occur. I woke up and had to change my clothes, I can’t remember the last time that happened. My God, I felt like a kid in high school again." Leo can’t believe that he doesn’t feel awkward talking to her about this. Jenny and he never discussed anything about their sex life, not like this. There is nothing that is too uncomfortable for Margaret and him to discuss.

"Really?"

"Yeah."

Leo gathers Margaret up in his arms. "Baby, I think we should probably try and get some sleep now. Abbey’s going to be coming over early tomorrow and I want to be able to have some time with you in the morning before she gets here."

"Time for what?" Margaret knows perfectly well what Leo is referring to.

"Time to get to know you better, I want to explore and learn ever inch of you."

"Okay, I think I can make some time for that."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"Okay."

Leo smiles at their banter. He’s so happy that he has the love of his life in his arms. She fits so perfectly against him and makes him want to be a better man. He sighs and closes his eyes and waits for peaceful sleep to over take him. And for the first time in years, sleep comes quickly.

Margaret smiles at their banter. She’s so happy to be in Leo’s arms. She has dreamed of this moment for years and still can’t believe it’s happening. She is happier than she ever thought possible. She sighs and close her eyes and drifts off to sleep.

The End.

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Thanks for reading my story and a big thanks to the people who took the time and provided feedback!

‘Christmas Without You’ is the first part in my "Through the Years" series.

Chapters: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12

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