and so from time to time he opened his doors to those who wished an audience

[imnotrobin]

Sam spends much of his time actually drafting speeches on behalf of the president, especially considering there's a re-election to consider, but every once in a while he starts to go cross-eyed and it's time for a break. He doesn't really mean break in the sense of "temporary closing of eyes and/or inhaling of food in the White House" but, rather, means break in the sense of actually getting to see his girlfriend face to face and sleep in a real bed.

Today is one of those days.

Sam is up to his neck in spin control and he thinks the cure for what ails him is a nice little trip to the hotel. The last few times he's tried, he hasn't gotten through, but Sam thinks that's because he genuinely was just trying to avoid work and didn't actually need the break. This time, though, he's determined to make it work and he opens his office door and steps through several times with eyes closed. He runs into a very startled intern on turn three but on turn four, he steps into the hallway in front of the suite that he sometimes, occasionally, not-often-enough visits with Ainsley in tow.

"Obviously the door is a plot device from an opera," Sam says, not checking to see if Ainsley is here yet or not. Normally they time this pretty well but he wonders, just a little, if he shouldn't have warned her before coming through so she could make her way here.

Comments

[imnotrobin]

"I was engaged, once, but it didn't work out. I wasn't what she was looking for. Soon afterward, I ended up with Bartlet's campaign and I got married to my work."

He lifts her hand to his lips, kissing it lightly. "I want to put a ring on your finger someday, Ainsley. You know that, don't you?"

[theirlawyer]

She searches his face, pleased to hear him say that, but also wary because he'd led with 'was engaged before', so she's not entirely sure what to take from it other than being pleased and worried. "I mean, we might have to talk and make sure that the things you're looking for are in this relationship," she points out pragmatically, "but I'd like to be with you permanently, too, Sam Seaborn."

[imnotrobin]

"It was because of her, not me, that we broke it off," Sam assures her. "I wanted to be married. I'm glad, though, because otherwise I wouldn't have met you and we wouldn't be together. It led me to you."

[theirlawyer]

"You know, it's almost like you have a way with words or something," Ainsley says with a coy, teasing smile, always enjoying when she gets to poke at Sam a little. "Just so you know, I very much am the traditional kind of person who wants to be married, so I'm glad we're on the same page."

[imnotrobin]

"Good. Otherwise, I would have had to take back that really impromptu and very bad proposal," Sam says.

"And possibly have pretended to choke on something in the process."

[theirlawyer]

She twirls the napkin ring with her fingers, giving him a pointed look, raising a brow. "You do know you didn't get out of the actual proposal," she points out, because she wants to make sure that he knows she's still expecting that. "Preferably without it ending in me performing the heimlich."

[imnotrobin]

"I don't think it's ever a good idea to combine food and small, metal objects," Sam says sagely.

"Believe me, Ainsley, when I propose, it will be after planning it to every intricate detail. I want it to be perfect."

[theirlawyer]

She won't be entirely surprised, now that he's brought it up, but she's not sure surprise is the best element for her given her unpredictability when it comes to certain events in her life. She ducks her head down, smiling privately, and when she looks back up at Sam, she's sure it shows in her eyes. "No pressure, but I will be telling my family this story again and again, when it happens."

[imnotrobin]

"Which is exactly why I'm going to make it spectacular," Sam assures her. "I want you to have the story to tell your family and I want you to be proud of it. I want you to be proud to be with me."

[theirlawyer]

"I am proud of you," she says, because no matter her politics, she loves hearing Sam's words coming out of the President's mouth. He's brilliant and influential and definitely something she loves to look at. "And speaking of that," she says, arranging her cutlery as she sets the menu aside, ready to order, "we should talk about our politicals futures, at some point."

[imnotrobin]

"Planning on running any time soon?" Sam has toyed with running for office himself and has vaguely explored the possibility of a house seat back in California. It might be nice, to legislate rather than be in the executive branch.

"Any thoughts on where or what office?"

[theirlawyer]

"It depends on what you do," Ainsley admits. "I'd like to hold office, but probably not the kind of office that you can, but I'd much rather still practice law." She could definitely see herself gunning for something that leads to the supreme court, not that if Sam gets to be president it wouldn't reek of favoritism.

[imnotrobin]

"You could get appointed to a judgeship or an attorney general posting," Sam says, mulling it over.

"You'd actually be really good at that, you know."

[theirlawyer]

"I know," is her instant reply, without any doubt. She knows exactly where her strengths lie and she knows that Sam's aware, too. "It just depends on where we're going to settle. Do you intend to stay in Washington?"

[imnotrobin]

"I would like to," Sam says. "I want to stay on the east coast, certainly. I've been gone from the west coast so long now that it doesn't feel like home anymore." First it had been law school, then his first few jobs and now his position in DC - it's been ages since he's lived in California for any stretch of time. It doesn't feel like home anymore.

[theirlawyer]

"The East Coast is where my family is, where my connections are. I think I saw myself as settling there my whole life, too," she admits, glad that they're on the same page as far as that goes. "You know that no matter what career path I choose for myself, I'm still going to support you every step of the way, right?"

[imnotrobin]

"That's what partners do," Sam assures her. "And I would support you no matter what you decided to do. I'm glad it goes both ways."

He likes this, making plans and thinking about the future.

[theirlawyer]

"When on earth did we get so serious?" she teases, because she knows plenty well when they did. She thinks they still have a few more steps to go, because having their families find out and the staff will be the next big step. "I suppose when marriage hit the table, we had to be."