Part 7
INAUGURATION DAY: 11:30 AM
“Mr. President-elect, if you’ll come this way.”
“Just a moment, please.” Sam turned to his friend of over 30 years. “I’m glad you’re
here. It wouldn’t have been the same without you.”
“No, watching it on TV wouldn’t have cut it for me either.” Josh admitted. “Don’t
stress about the speech; you and Toby did great work. President’s Bartlet and
Santos are both going to be very proud.”
“I’m so glad he was well enough to attend today.” Sam admitted. “He told me I’d be
standing here one day, you know.”
“Yes, sir. I recall that story after a few beers one night in California.” Sam grinned at
the memory.
“Sir, it’s time to go,” said the ceremony coordinator with a worried look on her face.
“I’m coming.” Sam told her. “I’ll see you on the platform.” He told Josh.
When Josh joined his family on the platform there were smiles all around. So far, the
day was going without a hitch and Josh was glad their family had decided to come.
Peter and Miranda Santos looked so grown up and Josh had enjoyed spending time
catching up with their family. President Bartlet was having a really good day and
appeared to be beaming as his protégé took the oath of office. Donna was a little on
edge during the swearing in, but once the balls began, she visibly relaxed. They had
promised the children they could go to the first two, then they were going to the
White House for the ‘children’s ball’ with the Seaborn and Matthews children.
Josh was enjoying a slow dance with his wife, when President Bartlet asked to cut in.
“You look as beautiful as ever, Donna.” The former President told her.
“Thank you, sir, you look pretty dashing yourself.”
“Please, the best you can hope for at my age is distinguished.”
“Well, you’re certainly that.” Donna smiled at him. “President Seaborn was
particularly thrilled to see you here today.”
“I was thrilled to be able to come. I was very happy to see all of your family in
attendance as well, Donna. Standing up to hate mongers who threaten your family
takes no small amount of courage; but you and Joshua have never been lacking in
that department have you?”
“No, sir.” Donna agreed. “It’s different when it’s your children that are threatened,
though.”
“Of course it is. No one knows that better than I. Your job is never done as a parent.
It’s a finish line you never get to cross, but Noah and AJ have good heads on their
shoulders and a solid foundation thanks to you and Josh. They’ll weather this storm
just fine and be all the better for it in the end.” Jed Bartlet stopped moving and
kissed her cheek. “I’m going to sit with the men outside and see if I can sneak a
cigarette while Abby’s pre-occupied.”
“Good luck with that sir.” Donna watched as he met up with her husband and Josh
unobtrusively took the former President’s arm and led him to where the current
President was holding court.
“President Seaborn, did my ears deceive me, or was that speech a collaboration
between Batman and Robin?” Laughter rang out among those who had served with
President Bartlet. Toby seemed to find it particularly amusing.
“You always had a very good ear, sir. Ainsley and I are so delighted to have you and
Dr. Bartlet as guests at the White House.”
“I always said you’d be President one day, Sam.”
“You were right, as always, sir.” Bartlet laughed now.
“That’s not quite accurate, but I’m not going to argue with the sitting President. What
do you think of our boy here, Joshua?”
“I think he’s going to make us all proud, sir.” Josh replied.
“He has already, Josh, you all have. If Leo was here today, he’d be bragging about
how he formed the next generation of Democratic leadership.” Losing Leo to a
massive coronary just a few months after he and President Santos left office had
been a heavy blow to all the men at the table, but particularly to Jed Bartlet.
“I can just imagine it.” Josh added. “Son, we have great expectations for you. You let
us down and I’ll personally drop kick you off the map.” Josh did his best Leo imitation.
Jed Bartlet looked from one man to the other, just as CJ joined them. “Hello
gorgeous. I’m glad you’re here. I was just saying to these fine gentlemen how proud I
am of all of you. You’ve lived up to the expectations that we placed on you and you
never let me or one another down. This nonsense that Josh is dealing with, it’s good
that he doesn’t have to go through it alone.”
“He never will, sir. I promise you that.” Sam assured him as he looked at Josh.
“I already have a Robin, but Josh could be our bat girl.” Toby remarked.
“Thanks Tobus, but I think I’ll pass. Maybe CJ?” Josh teased
“I was always partial to Catwoman.” CJ purred. Ainsley appeared at her side.
“I really don’t think it’s appropriate to purr around these men, CJ.” Ainsley told her.
“They’re very easily encouraged. President Bartlet, your wife is looking for you.”
“She knows how to find me. Can I just say that you have come a long way from the
young woman who almost peed in Leo’s closet.”
“President Bartlet, that is positively wicked of you to mention, especially in this
company.”
“You will be a lovely and formidable First Lady, I’m sure.” Jed told her.
“Wait a second. I want to hear the peeing in Leo’s closet story.” Josh interjected.
“You keep this one on his toes. He’s going to need a strong compass over these
next few years. A strong, smart partner makes all the difference in the world in his
job.” Jed continued as if Josh had never spoken.
“Josiah, that was a lovely speech, and if you hadn’t seen me coming up behind you
in the window, it might have saved your sorry ass from the lecture you’re going to
get.” Came the dulcet tones of Abigail Bartlet.
“Please, honey, not in front of the children.” was his reply.
“Our deal was one final dance with Donna and then to bed.” She took his arm. “Now
you’ll have to leave without sneaking out for your cigarette. Goodnight, everyone.”
Abigail led her husband out of the ballroom at a sedate pace as the others watched.
Donna came up behind Josh and put her arms around his waist while Danny
Concannon followed her into the fray.
“Isn’t anybody going to tell the story about Ainsley and Leo’s closet?” Josh
demanded.
“Excuse me?” Danny asked intrigued.
“No reporters here tonight, Danny.” Donna reminded him.
“Thank God.” Ainsley breathed a sigh of relief. “How about another glass of
champagne everyone?” Ainsley motioned for the waiter to distribute the glasses.
“I think you’re floating pretty well already, Ains.” He husband mentioned.
“Hell, Sam, neither of us are driving.” She told him.
“Fair point.” Sam conceded. “Plus maybe if I get you drunk enough you’ll tell
everyone the story about peeing in Leo’s closet.”
“I did NOT pee in Leo’s closet and there isn’t enough liquor in D.C. to get me to
repeat what did transpire.”
“Toby?” Sam entreated his former boss to make the toast.
“To our new President and First Lady; may the expectations placed on them never
be greater than the sum of their talents and skills.”
“Here, here.” Exclaimed CJ as they drank to the toast.
INAUGURATION DAY: 11:30 AM
“Mr. President-elect, if you’ll come this way.”
“Just a moment, please.” Sam turned to his friend of over 30 years. “I’m glad you’re
here. It wouldn’t have been the same without you.”
“No, watching it on TV wouldn’t have cut it for me either.” Josh admitted. “Don’t
stress about the speech; you and Toby did great work. President’s Bartlet and
Santos are both going to be very proud.”
“I’m so glad he was well enough to attend today.” Sam admitted. “He told me I’d be
standing here one day, you know.”
“Yes, sir. I recall that story after a few beers one night in California.” Sam grinned at
the memory.
“Sir, it’s time to go,” said the ceremony coordinator with a worried look on her face.
“I’m coming.” Sam told her. “I’ll see you on the platform.” He told Josh.
When Josh joined his family on the platform there were smiles all around. So far, the
day was going without a hitch and Josh was glad their family had decided to come.
Peter and Miranda Santos looked so grown up and Josh had enjoyed spending time
catching up with their family. President Bartlet was having a really good day and
appeared to be beaming as his protégé took the oath of office. Donna was a little on
edge during the swearing in, but once the balls began, she visibly relaxed. They had
promised the children they could go to the first two, then they were going to the
White House for the ‘children’s ball’ with the Seaborn and Matthews children.
Josh was enjoying a slow dance with his wife, when President Bartlet asked to cut in.
“You look as beautiful as ever, Donna.” The former President told her.
“Thank you, sir, you look pretty dashing yourself.”
“Please, the best you can hope for at my age is distinguished.”
“Well, you’re certainly that.” Donna smiled at him. “President Seaborn was
particularly thrilled to see you here today.”
“I was thrilled to be able to come. I was very happy to see all of your family in
attendance as well, Donna. Standing up to hate mongers who threaten your family
takes no small amount of courage; but you and Joshua have never been lacking in
that department have you?”
“No, sir.” Donna agreed. “It’s different when it’s your children that are threatened,
though.”
“Of course it is. No one knows that better than I. Your job is never done as a parent.
It’s a finish line you never get to cross, but Noah and AJ have good heads on their
shoulders and a solid foundation thanks to you and Josh. They’ll weather this storm
just fine and be all the better for it in the end.” Jed Bartlet stopped moving and
kissed her cheek. “I’m going to sit with the men outside and see if I can sneak a
cigarette while Abby’s pre-occupied.”
“Good luck with that sir.” Donna watched as he met up with her husband and Josh
unobtrusively took the former President’s arm and led him to where the current
President was holding court.
“President Seaborn, did my ears deceive me, or was that speech a collaboration
between Batman and Robin?” Laughter rang out among those who had served with
President Bartlet. Toby seemed to find it particularly amusing.
“You always had a very good ear, sir. Ainsley and I are so delighted to have you and
Dr. Bartlet as guests at the White House.”
“I always said you’d be President one day, Sam.”
“You were right, as always, sir.” Bartlet laughed now.
“That’s not quite accurate, but I’m not going to argue with the sitting President. What
do you think of our boy here, Joshua?”
“I think he’s going to make us all proud, sir.” Josh replied.
“He has already, Josh, you all have. If Leo was here today, he’d be bragging about
how he formed the next generation of Democratic leadership.” Losing Leo to a
massive coronary just a few months after he and President Santos left office had
been a heavy blow to all the men at the table, but particularly to Jed Bartlet.
“I can just imagine it.” Josh added. “Son, we have great expectations for you. You let
us down and I’ll personally drop kick you off the map.” Josh did his best Leo imitation.
Jed Bartlet looked from one man to the other, just as CJ joined them. “Hello
gorgeous. I’m glad you’re here. I was just saying to these fine gentlemen how proud I
am of all of you. You’ve lived up to the expectations that we placed on you and you
never let me or one another down. This nonsense that Josh is dealing with, it’s good
that he doesn’t have to go through it alone.”
“He never will, sir. I promise you that.” Sam assured him as he looked at Josh.
“I already have a Robin, but Josh could be our bat girl.” Toby remarked.
“Thanks Tobus, but I think I’ll pass. Maybe CJ?” Josh teased
“I was always partial to Catwoman.” CJ purred. Ainsley appeared at her side.
“I really don’t think it’s appropriate to purr around these men, CJ.” Ainsley told her.
“They’re very easily encouraged. President Bartlet, your wife is looking for you.”
“She knows how to find me. Can I just say that you have come a long way from the
young woman who almost peed in Leo’s closet.”
“President Bartlet, that is positively wicked of you to mention, especially in this
company.”
“You will be a lovely and formidable First Lady, I’m sure.” Jed told her.
“Wait a second. I want to hear the peeing in Leo’s closet story.” Josh interjected.
“You keep this one on his toes. He’s going to need a strong compass over these
next few years. A strong, smart partner makes all the difference in the world in his
job.” Jed continued as if Josh had never spoken.
“Josiah, that was a lovely speech, and if you hadn’t seen me coming up behind you
in the window, it might have saved your sorry ass from the lecture you’re going to
get.” Came the dulcet tones of Abigail Bartlet.
“Please, honey, not in front of the children.” was his reply.
“Our deal was one final dance with Donna and then to bed.” She took his arm. “Now
you’ll have to leave without sneaking out for your cigarette. Goodnight, everyone.”
Abigail led her husband out of the ballroom at a sedate pace as the others watched.
Donna came up behind Josh and put her arms around his waist while Danny
Concannon followed her into the fray.
“Isn’t anybody going to tell the story about Ainsley and Leo’s closet?” Josh
demanded.
“Excuse me?” Danny asked intrigued.
“No reporters here tonight, Danny.” Donna reminded him.
“Thank God.” Ainsley breathed a sigh of relief. “How about another glass of
champagne everyone?” Ainsley motioned for the waiter to distribute the glasses.
“I think you’re floating pretty well already, Ains.” He husband mentioned.
“Hell, Sam, neither of us are driving.” She told him.
“Fair point.” Sam conceded. “Plus maybe if I get you drunk enough you’ll tell
everyone the story about peeing in Leo’s closet.”
“I did NOT pee in Leo’s closet and there isn’t enough liquor in D.C. to get me to
repeat what did transpire.”
“Toby?” Sam entreated his former boss to make the toast.
“To our new President and First Lady; may the expectations placed on them never
be greater than the sum of their talents and skills.”
“Here, here.” Exclaimed CJ as they drank to the toast.
Expectations 1
Expectations 2
Expectations 3
Expectations 4
Expectations 5
Expectations 6
Expectations 7
Expectations 8
Expectations 9
Expectations 10
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