"I hope you don't think we're gonna keep this up," Lou scoffed.

"Just till we're through the State of the Union."

Lou looked at him skeptically.

"Wait....let's just say all important speeches and leave it open."

"Otto," Lou warned, but she couldn't stop the corners of her mouth from turning up a little.

"Admit it," Otto wheedled, "you're having fun."

Lou carefully schooled her features. "It's not altogether unpleasant."

"And no one's getting hurt," Otto offered. "We're consenting adults."

"Let's not forget I'm your boss."

"Luckily I like being ordered around," Otto waggled his eyebrows.

"Get out of my office. Get back to work."

Otto laughed and headed for the door. "I'm finishing up the press release on the water standards bill but later on I wanted to map out the Social Security section of the State of the Union."

"OUT!"

CUT TO:
INTERIOR - SAM'S OFFICE

Sam heard a soft tap on his door and looked up to see Ainsley standing in the doorway.

"Your assistant isn't at her desk," she said, still not entering the office.

"Come in, come in," Sam urged. "I could use a break." He pushed aside the papers he had been reading and stretched in his chair.

"Tough day?" Ainsley asked as she slid into one of his visitor's chairs.

"Not tough so much as incredibly frustrating." Sam rolled his head from side to side. "I don't seem to have done much today except hurry up and wait. You?"

"About the same," the blonde sighed. "I was just down in the Mess having a snack."

"Did you miss dinner?"

"No."

Sam laughed. "I should have known."

"Yes, you should have," Ainsley smiled. "Any word on the Kazakhstan explosion?"

"We're still waiting. The sun's up and they finally have the fire under control so hopefully it won't be more than few hours."

"Still no chatter about an attack?"

"None."

"That's a good sign."

"It is indeed," Sam agreed.

Ainsley noticed him mindlessly fiddling with a velvet jewelry box on his desk. "What's that? Someone's
Christmas present?"

"What? Oh this," Sam stopped fiddling and placed his hand on top of the box. "No, it's actually a present that got returned to me."

"Returned? Who would...oh" Suddenly the dime dropped. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have butted in."

"No, it's ok. It was Lauren of course. I gave it to her the night of the Halloween party. And she didn't
so much return it to me as she left it on the table when she went back to California."

"She didn't like it?"

"I have no idea. She never wore it. She said it reminded her of everything that was wrong with our relationship."

"Everything that was wrong?" Ainsley had a feeling Sam needed to talk but she didn't want to push him too far.

"I knew she was unhappy with me when I bought it. I knew I hadn't been focusing as much on our relationship as she wanted me to. So I did the thing stupid men have done through the ages. I bought her an expensive gift thinking that would take care of the problem."

"Sam," Ainsley sighed softly. "Don't beat yourself up."

"I'm not really. I've just been trying to understand where I keep going wrong." He flashed her a sad smile. "This is two failed engagements for me now."

"It's not all your fault," she assured him.

"You're right. It's not. But it's partly my fault."

"Have you come to any conclusions?"

"Lauren said I changed once we got to DC. That I wasn't the same guy I was in California. And looking back, I realize she was right."

"We all go through changes, Sam."

"I know. But I've finally figured out that there are two actual Sams. There's lawyer Sam, and there's
politician Sam."

"And they're different people?"

"Very different. Don't get me wrong I loved my law firm work but it was very different from what I do here. I was able to turn it off at the end of the day." Sam laughed ruefully. "I used to be able to leave the office and an hour later be sitting in a restaurant having dinner and my latest case was the farthest thing from my mind."

"But you can't do that here." It was a statement not a question.

"No, I can't."

"It's possible to have both personal and professional success. Look at Josh and Donna."

"I know it's possible. I think the problem is that I always seem to find a woman to get serious about when I'm lawyer Sam and they don't like the changes that occur when I turn into politician Sam."

"Are you thinking about turning back into lawyer Sam to facilitate your love life," Ainsley teased.

"No. Sitting here--in this office--even on days like today when I feel like I'm being pecked to death by a duck--I know this is where my passion lies. This is exactly where I want to be. I went back to the law to lick my wounds after I lost the Congressional race but no matter how many times I tried to convince myself otherwise, it wasn't where my heart was. That's why it didn't take much arm twisting for Josh to get me back."

"Ok then, I think I know what you need to do," Ainsley said determinedly.

"What's that?" Sam smiled.

"You need to find a woman who will fall in love with politician Sam."

"Is there one hiding around here somewhere? She'd almost have to be. It's not like I have much spare
time to go out and find her."

"You're preaching to the choir, Mr. Seaborn."

"Ah come on. A girl like you must have straight laced, daddy approved suitors lined up around the block. You're probably beating them off with a stick at the RNC meetings."

Ainsley snorted. "But you see, this is where you and I have a similar problem, Samuel. Those men are enamored of Republican good girl Ainsley Hayes."

"Not bad girl Democrat fraternizer Ainsley Hayes?" Sam smirked.

She rolled her eyes. "Working at the White House the first time around changed me. For the better I think."

"Me too," Sam said softly.

"When I went back out into the private sector I realized that a) there is nothing as exciting as working in politics and b) those people are never going to allow me to change. They still expect me to be the old Ainsley and I'm just not her anymore."

"We're a pair aren't we?"

"We are indeed. Like two peas in a pod."

"Hey," Sam said, brightening considerably, "why don't you take the necklace?"

"Don't be silly, Sam. I can't accept that."

"Because it has ex-fiancée cooties?"

"No. Because it's far too extravagant."

"I thought you just said we're like two peas in a pod?"

"We are."

"Then this is my Christmas gift to my podmate."

Ainsley looked skeptical.

"It's not like I can return it," Sam argued. "It's been too long. And it's not like I have anyone else to give it to."

"What about your Mom," Ainsley suggested.

"She hates my taste in jewelry." Sam opened the box and turned it towards her.

"Well that's silly because this is one gorgeous necklace," Ainsley admitted.

"It's yours." Sam closed the case and pushed it across the desk towards her.

"Does this mean I have to go out and buy you an insanely extravagant Christmas gift," Ainsley asked as she picked up the box.

"No, but it means you have to go to the Santos' New Year's Eve party with me so people don't cast those 'poor Sam' looks at me all night."

Ainsley pretended to think about it. "If I must."

CUT TO:
INTERIOR - JOSH'S OFFICE

"Ron Butterfield is here to see you," Margaret said.

"Send him in."

Margaret waved the lanky Secret Service Chief into Josh's office then left and closed the door behind
her.

"We got an all clear on the white powder," Ron said without preamble. "We're not sure yet exactly what it was but we know it wasn't any sort of toxic agent."

"That's good," Josh said. "You already briefed the President?"

"I gave him the all clear but no details. I'll have a full report on your desk before morning."

"Sounds good, Ron. Thanks."

"No problem."

Josh noticed that Ron showed no intention of leaving.

"Is there something else?"

"I just wondered if you'd thought any more about what I said earlier."

"What you said earlier?"

"About women liking...."

"Ron?"

"Yes."

"All due respect, and with full knowledge you could kill me before I could get to the phone, get out."

"I'm just trying to help."

"I'll add the suggestion to the pile."

"I'll make sure everyone gets word of the all clear," Ron smirked as he turned to leave.

"Thanks, Ron."

CUT TO:
INTERIOR - LESTER'S OFFICE

"One down," Lester sighed gratefully as he hung up the phone. "Josh says we got an all clear on the anthrax thing. We won't know exactly what the substance was for a few hours but we can announce that it was definitely not toxic."

"Excellent," Annabeth said as she munched happily on a bear claw. "That's certainly a relief. Though I was eating all these calories at least partly on the theory that if it was something bad I wouldn't die with salad on my breath."

Lester laughed. "What?"

"You know...what if you have to go through eternity with the taste of the last thing you ever ate in your mouth. Would you really want that to be salad?

"I guess not," Lester agreed.

"Of course now that we know it's nothing I'll have to spend an extra hour in the gym every day for a month. Oh well. It was worth it. These bear claws are fabulous. Any word on Kazakhstan?"

"Nothing yet." Lester nearly got whiplash from the conversational shift.

"So you're not calling a lid?"

"Nope. Though you know.... " he teased.

"What?"

"This whole Kazakhstan thing could be very dangerous. If it all falls apart we could be standing on the brink of World War 3.

"Well then we have no choice," Annabeth said grimly.

"I better run down to the mess and see if they have any more bear claws?"

"Exactly. And I'll call the White House gym and ask if they can open an hour early for us for next month."

CUT TO:
INTERIOR - JOSH'S OFFICE

"Hey, Martin. What's the word," Josh asked as the Mansion Manager entered his office. He stood close to the door, worrying his fingers nervously. He was much less comfortable in front of Josh without Donna's beaming smile to give him courage.

"We've got all the lights back on," he started.

"I kinda noticed that," Josh said, pointing to his desk light.

"All the wires have been rerouted and we don't expect to have any more problems."

"Great."

"Everything should be perfect for Matt Lauer's visit tomorrow morning."

"Good, because that's the most important thing we have going on in this building tomorrow," Josh said sarcastically.

"Stop torturing Martin, Joshua," Donna said as she entered the office from the hallway. "Everything back on track, Martin?"

"Absolutely, Ms. Mo...err...I mean Donna," he blushed.

Josh cocked an eyebrow.

"I was just telling Mr. Lyman that all the wires have been re-routed and all the lights have been checked and everything is good to go."

"Thanks, Martin. We appreciate all your hard work today. It's really gonna pay off when the First Lady gives Matt Lauer the tour tomorrow."

Mark beamed. "It was my pleasure. If there's nothing else you need from me I'll be going."

"Have a good night," Donna smiled. "I'll see you tomorrow."

As Martin left the office Josh stared at Donna incredulously. "We appreciate all your hard work today," he said in a bad imitation of Donna's voice.

"I was just being nice."

Josh looked dubious but came out from behind his desk and wrapped his arms around her anyway. "Did you need something?"

"I came to say goodbye and to see if you knew when you'd be home."

"I have no idea. This Kazakhstan thing is still up in the air. Hopefully it's nothing but if it's something everything is gonna explode fast and I'll need to be here. It'll probably be a late one."

"That's ok. I have a bunch of presents to wrap."

"Oh damn. I wanted to help with that," Josh said with mock disappointment.

"Very funny." Donna kissed on the cheek. "I'll see you when you get home."

CUT TO:
INTERIOR - JOSH'S OFFICE, CONTINUOUS

After Donna left Josh closed both the door to the hall and the door to Margaret's office. He took a few deep cleansing breaths. He could do this. He was used to dealing with some of the most powerful people in world and bending them to his will. This phone call shouldn't scare him at all.

Then why were his palms so clammy?

He wiped his hands on his pants and reached in his top drawer for a breath mint. He sat up straight, made sure his desk was tidy, then picked up the phone and dialed.

"Hello? Mrs. Moss?"

"Josh, I'm so glad you called back," she said happily. "Let me put you on speaker."

"Hi, Josh, " Gary Moss's voice boomed across the line.

"Hello, Mr. Moss. I'm glad to get a chance to talk to the two of you together." He decided to dive right in before anything went wrong. "As you both know I love Donna very much. I've never felt about anyone the way I feel about her and I want to ask her to marry me. It would mean the world to both of us if we could have your blessing."

"Oh, Josh, of course you have our blessing," Marjorie sniffled.

"I've never seen my little girl as happy as she is when she's with you," Gary added. "I'd be honored to
have you as a son-in-law."

"Thank you," Josh said, fighting back the lump in his throat. "That means the world to me. I haven't asked Donna yet so I'd appreciate it if you could keep my secret until I do."

"Of course we will dear," Marjorie said. "Do you have any idea exactly how you're going to propose yet?"

"No," Josh stifled a smile. "Do you have any suggestions?"