“I think he’s with KD.” Kathy replied sweetly.

“Of course he. He always is these days.” Sam muttered.

“Aw, a little jealous, Sam?” Kathy teased.

“Hardly. Just tired of doing all the work.” He retorted playfully.

“Be sure and tell Toby that. I’m sure he’ll sympathize greatly.” Kathy teased
again. Sam rolled his eyes.

“I don’t have a death wish, thank you.” He retorted.

“Mallory called. She wanted to know if you were free for dinner tonight.”
His assistant announced as she followed him back into this office. Sam nodded
and looked at her.

“Am I?” He asked weakly.

“I don’t know. I plan your days, Sam, not your nights.”

“I’ll take that as a yes.” He retorted before grabbing the phone and dialing.

“You have a meeting in ten minutes, so watch your time.” Kathy added as
she stepped out of the office and closed the door. Sam collapsed into his chair
and listened to the ringing on the other end of the line.

“Hello.” Mallory’s voice picked up.

“Mal, it’s me.” Sam said cheerfully.

“Hey, Sam. Where have you been?” She asked softly as she glanced out at
her classroom.

“Arguing with Military goons about gay rights.” Sam admitted. “I heard you
called and yes, I am free for dinner tonight. What time should I drop by?”

“Um, why don’t we eat at your place tonight? We can just watch some
movies and eat some take-out or something.” Mal suggested unevenly.

“Mal, what’s wrong?” Sam asked uncertainly.

“Nothing’s wrong. It just that my apartment is a mess and I don’t really
want to work to clean it up.” She replied.

“You sure?” He asked.

“I’m positive. I’ll be there at seven, okay?” She confirmed softly.

“Okay, great. I’ll see you then.” He replied.

“Bye Sam. I love you.” She said before hanging up. Sam stared at the
phone in awe. She said the three words. She’d never said them to him before. He’d
never heard them from her before.

“Sam?” A voice exclaimed. He looked absentmindedly at Josh who was
leaning in the door. “You okay, man? You look dazed.”

“I just talked to Mal.” Sam murmured.

“What, did she yell at you or something?” Josh asked in concerned.

“She said she loved me.” Sam said in amazement. Josh smiled and shook
his head. Poor Sam, such a young one he was.

“Congratulations. Now you have a meeting. Get out of here.” He added and
went back to his office. Sam stood up, still a bit dazed as he grabbed his jacket
and headed for the hallway.

“Sam.” Kathy called. “Other way.”

“Thanks.” He replied and disappeared down the hall. Josh chuckled and
moved next to Donna.

“Do I have a meeting?” He asked her as they moved into his office and
closed the door.

“Nope, no more meetings today.” She replied.

“Good. Wanna go home with me?” He asked playfully as he kissed her
neck gently. She chuckled and kissed his cheek.

“No, I think we should stick around and bug people.” She retorted before
he pressed his lips to her.

“I wish you two would break it up for ten seconds.” Leo said playfully as he
leaned in the door.

“I wish you’d recognize the meaning of a closed door.” Josh retorted.

“Watch your tone, Josh. I need you to go to this NSC meeting for me and
then you can have the rest of today off.” He exclaimed. Josh whined.

“I don’t wanna go to an NSC meeting, Leo. They hate me. The NSC people
that always meet with me are big vicious brutes who enjoy making me feel like a
shrimp and threatening to bomb my house.” He whimpered. Leo chuckled and
shook his head.

“Listen, Josh, they’re sending the people that would meet with me so the
brutes are probably safe at home and as for whether or not you wanna go, I’m
your boss and I said so. Go.” The Chief of Staff insisted. “Sorry, Donna. You’ll get
him back very quickly, I’m sure.” Leo added and then disappeared down the
hallway. He stepped through Margaret’s office to his own and smiled as he saw a
familiar figure leaning against his desk.

“What’s this I hear about you blowing off an NSC meeting?” Jeri asked
playfully. Leo shrugged and closed the door.

“I blew off an NSC meeting. I know for a fact that they have nothing to say
to me except to complain about the lack of funding to the defense budget that will
be a direct result of passing 784 tomorrow.” He informed her as he leaned next to
her on the desk.

“You sound might confident that it’s going to pass.” She pointed out.

“That’s because I know KD won’t settle for anything less.” He retorted.

“You seem much happier now that she’s home. I’m glad.” Jeri replied.

“I am too. I’m glad she’s back where she belongs.” Leo agreed.

“Leo, I was wondering . . . Okay, hello.” Jed Bartlet stopped in his walk and
looked back and forth between Leo and Jeri with a devilish smirk on his face. Leo
rolled his eyes and stood up.

“Mr. President, may I introduce Jeri Logan? Jeri, this is Jed Bartlet, but I
doubt he needs introduction.” Leo said evenly. Jed smiled and shook the
woman’s hand.

“No, he doesn’t.” Jeri confirmed. “Nice to meet you, Mr. President.”

“So you would be Jeri.” Jed said with an eyebrow raised and a big grin.

“Last time I checked, but this memory of mine . . .” Jeri retorted with a
smirk. Jed chuckled and nodded.

“Well, I haven’t heard a lot about you, but your name does keep popping up
so I’m glad I finally have a face to put to the name.” The commander-in-chief
explained. Jeri nodded and smiled at Leo.

“Well, nice to hear I’m having an effect.” She said playfully. Leo blushed a
little and looked at his best friend.

“Was there something I could do for you, Mr. President?” He asked softly.

“Yeah, I was wondering if you were taking your own car on Saturday or if
we were going to do a convoy.” Jed explained.

“I’m meeting Katy there at ten.” Leo replied.

“Okay.” Jed said with a smile. “Ms. Logan, it was a pleasure to meet you
and I hope to get a chance to get to know you better eventually.” He added with a
charismatic smirk. Jeri nodded.

“I too look forward to the opportunity.” She replied. “Perhaps if you get a
break on Saturday.”

“You going to come?” Jed asked, still smiling.

“I’ve been invited, yes, sir.” Jeri replied with a smile.

“Okay, great. I’ll leave you two alone now as long as you promise to
behave.” He said in a playfully stern voice. Leo glared at the President and Jeri
just chuckled lightly. Jed smiled again and went back into the Oval office. He
puttered around his desk for a few moments before noticing the door open. He
smiled as his wife moved into the room.

“I happen to know for a fact that you don’t have anything else to do today
and it’s only four o’clock.” She said as she closed the door and walked to him. He
nodded and looked at a brief.

“I know. It’s a miracle. We’re planning light these days because we’re
dealing with the vote tomorrow and then the wedding on Saturday.” He replied as
he felt her hands slip around him. He smiled and looked into her eyes. They
kissed gently as he slipped his arms around her.

“They’re doing it, Jeddie.” She whispered as she gazed into his eyes. He
smiled and nodded.

“I know. It’s amazing, isn’t it?” He murmured before kissing her lips again.
She grinned as his hands began to roam and his lips starting exploring the flesh
of her neck.

“Jed, what are you doing?” She asked playfully.

“Do you really need a brush-up in this department?” He teased before
pressing his lips to hers and pulling her closer. She kissed him back and then
pulled away to rest her head on his shoulder.

“Maybe I do, but not in here at four o’clock in the afternoon.” She said
softly. He grinned.

“Okay, allow me to lead the way.” He said as he took her hand and headed
for the door. She laughed.

“That’s not what I meant.” She said through chuckled. He pulled her closer
and pinned her against the wall next to the door. They kissed again as his hands
held her close. Suddenly the door flew open.

“Eww, gross.” Zoey exclaimed. Jed sighed and looked at her while Abbey
struggled not to crack up.

“I’m not complaining.” Jed said matter-of-factly and stepped away from his
wife. “Didn’t we teach you that it’s appropriate to knock before entering a room?”
He said in a mock scold.

“I wish I had.” Zoey teased. “Besides, this is the Oval office. I didn’t exactly
expect to find you guys making out in here.” She added. Abbey chuckled and
pointed to Jed.

“I’ll see you upstairs for dinner, okay?” She said. Jed nodded and watched
her leave. Then he looked at his daughter.

“What can I do for you now that you’ve interrupted my plans for this
afternoon?” He asked simply.

“Oh, dad, way too many details in that sentence that I did not need to
know.” Zoey whined.

“I’m sorry, sweetie. I had no intention of reminding you of the process in
which you were created.” Jed retorted as he walked to his desk.

“Dad! Eww!!” Zoey exclaimed. Jed just laughed and started gathering the
papers on his desk. “Anyway, I came to tell you that Liz called and she’s coming
for the Labor Day thing and to wish us all good luck with KD’s wedding.” Zoey
said as she recalled the message in her head.

“Okay, thanks. I was worried I’d miss her call.” Jed admitted.

“Is Charlie free from your reign yet?” Zoey asked hopefully.

“Sure, as long as there’s nothing that can create an eww going on, he’s at
his desk.” Jed retorted.

“Whatever you say, Dad.” Zoey replied sweetly before going out. She
moved up behind Charlie and put her hands over his eyes. “Guess who?” She
said softly. Charlie smiled and pretended to think about it.

“Um, let’s see.” He said slowly. Zoey giggled. “Could it be the prettiest girl
in the world?” Charlie asked as he turned and looked at her. He kissed her gently
and nodded. “Yep, it is.” He whispered. Zoey smiled at him and pulled him to his
feet. He wrapped his arms around her.

“Dad says you’re free.” Zoey said softly as she rested her head on his
chest. “So come on. I miss you.” She said softly. He smiled, nodded to Mrs.
Landingham and moved with his girlfriend down the hallway towards the
residence. Mrs. Landingham chuckled and finished typing on her computer. Love
seemed to be in the air.