Karaoke Kids Part Seventeen - The Conclusion We're not even halfway up the stairs when I hear Leo's soft voice. `Is it mine?' `Yes.' `We should get married.' Leo, old-fashioned at heart, speaking before thinking. But it's not what we want. Either of us. And, tomorrow, or later tonight, he'll realise that. `I have a better idea.' ***************** If there was a word that described being horrified, only a hundred times worse, that would be what Leo was right now. `Please tell me you're joking.' He sits heavily on my sofa. `Leo, think about it. I don't want a baby. The kids do.' `Susanna, you can't.' But, although I knew we had to talk about it, I had already made my decision. `Yes, Leo. I can. And in a few weeks, when I've had a scan and I know what it is, and that it's healthy, I'm going to ask them if they'd like to adopt it.' `I can't be part of this.' I smile. `Sorry, you already are. As the baby's father, you'll have to be.' `The Press…' I'm surprised at how firm my voice is. `Will get over it, Leo.' `I need a drink.' I'm relaxing a little now. `We can't. You're a recovering alcoholic and I'm pregnant.' `Josh and Sam…' Leo's voice tails off, then he suddenly thinks of something. `Catherine Whitaker-McGarry-Lyman-Seaborn. Poor kid.' I laugh. `Especially if it's a boy.' Then I think of something. `Leo, who's Catherine?' `It's the name Josh gave his imaginary baby sister after Joanie died. He kept saying the name over and over when he was coming round from the surgery after he was shot. When I asked him, he nearly didn't tell me. But he was too drugged to know what he was saying. So he did.' `Does anyone else know about this?' `Yeah. Sam. He was with me when Josh told me.' ****************** Epilogue I can't believe it. Catherine's almost nine. And we're planning a double celebration. Her birthday and the end of the second term for the Hoynes administration. Well, one celebration, but a big party anyway. As I had hoped, Joshua and Sam are great parents. Daddy J and Daddy S are better parents than anyone could hope to have. And Catherine's extended family – the Bartlet family, the McGarry family, Sam and Josh's families and Hoynes's family – love and protect her from the occasional unkind comment or hurtful remark she still hears. Leo and I have been married almost eight years. When the Bartlet administration's term ended, Hoynes offered Leo the Vice Presidency. But Leo was content with a quieter, but more important role. He became Secretary of State. And Joshua and Sam slipped into their new roles just as easily. Joshua as Chief of Staff and Sam as Communications Director. My new role as wife to the Secretary of State is fun too. The club proved so popular, we opened another. And another. We don't quite have "1600 1600's" as the Post joked we would, but we're getting there. Mickey still manages the original club, and oversees the managers of the others. Leo and I still go to the club sometimes, and, occasionally I sing. Very occasionally, so do Joshua and Sam. Toby and CJ both went into other jobs, leaving them more time to raise their own family. And, for the first time in as long as anyone could remember, there was a baby in the White House. Catherine spent the first four years of her life in a nursery hastily-constructed in the West Wing, Joshua and Sam always nearby when she wanted anything. Donna, after turning down the post of Hoynes' assistant, stayed with Josh, and Cathy, too, remained with Sam. Charlie left to continue his role as assistant to Bartlet, and his place was filled with a younger version of Donna, whose friend Curtis suggested his younger sister ask Donna for a job at the end of her college course. At the end of the month, we're attending another wedding. After several years of living together, Toby's former wife Andi and the editor of the Washington Post, Danny Concannon, are finally getting married. Toby will be giving her away. And rumour has it that she will be fighting Hoynes for the Democratic nomination in a few weeks. I'll be disappointed, in a way, if she wins. I always imagined Catherine as the first female President of the United States. If she enters politics, and if she runs for President, I'm sure she'll be elected. With her family background, she'd be perfect. The Karaoke Kids have come a long way. The End Home Send me feedback on this fic