Title: Unfamiliar Territory part One Leo was already at his desk when Margaret arrived. She poked her head round the door. ‘Good morning Leo.’ Mindful that, even at this early hour, they were not alone in the office, Leo looked up, half-smiled, and nodded. ‘Morning Margaret. Do I have some time free today?’ Bringing the diary into the office, Margaret frowned as she ran a finger down the page. ‘Yeah, at five. You have an hour.’ ‘Okay. Keep it free.’ ‘Sure. What do you want me to mark it down as?’ ‘Nothing. I just want you to keep it free.’ Unhappy, but realising she was getting nothing more, Margaret walked out. *************** Leo took the coffee mug Jed handed him. ‘How’s Margaret doing?’ Leo smiled, thinking back over the last month. ‘Okay. She’s really got over…what happened.’ ‘I’m sure she appreciated your help.’ ‘Jed…’ Leo tried to stop the conversation. ‘I’m just saying, I’m sure she was glad you were there for her.’ Leo gave up then, wondering if his silence would stop Jed. It did. For about a minute. ‘Oh, by the way, the answer’s yes.’ Leo wondered if he’d missed something. ‘And the question?’ ‘Will I be Best Man at your wedding?’ Cautiously, wondering whether Jed was feeling okay, Leo asked: ‘And the answer’s yes?’ ‘Yeah.’ ‘Jed, who am I marrying?’ Jed scowled as if Leo were being deliberately awkward. ‘Margaret.’ ‘You have me walking down the aisle, and I haven’t even asked her…’ Leo stopped as he realised what he’d said. Angry at his slip, Leo got to his feet. Jed laughed as Leo pushed past him. Under his breath he muttered: ‘I knew I was right.’ He couldn’t wait to tell Abbey. Walking back into his office, Leo saw Margaret in the doorway. ‘Leo, Mallory’s on her way.’ ‘Yuh. Thanks Margaret.’ Returning to her own office, Margaret sat and stared at the blank space in the ‘Personal Details’ section of the diary on the desk in front of her. Almost without thinking, she wrote: Margaret and Leo McGarry. Then, realising everyone had access to the diary in her absence, she hurriedly altered the entry so it read: ‘Margaret. And Leo McGarry. She hoped the alteration wasn’t too noticeable. ************ ‘Dad.’ ‘Hi Mal.’ Leo looked up, smiling. It had been almost two weeks since he’d seen his daughter. ‘Why all the mystery? Meet me at five. Why am I here?’ ‘I want to talk to you. Come on.’ Leo got up and led his daughter out of his office and out of the building. Leo looked at his daughter, unable to read her thoughts. ‘So?’ Mallory took a deep breath. ‘Are you sure. About how you feel about her, I mean.’ ‘Yeah Mal. I am.’ Mallory kissed her father’s cheek. ‘You want me to tell Mom?’ Leo groaned. ‘No. I’ll tell her tonight.’ ‘You sure she’s gonna be home?’ ‘Yeah. I called ahead.’ ‘Good luck.’ ‘With Margaret or your mother?’ Mallory laughed gently. ‘Both.’ ************* ‘Leo.’ ‘Jen.’ Leo stood on the doorstep for some time before the door had been opened. Mind games. He really wasn’t in the mood. He just wanted to get this over with. ‘Come in.’ Leo walked into a house he hardly recognised. Gone were the soft pale colours. In their place, modern, vibrant blues, pinks and greens. On the walls, most of the furnishings and much of the floorcovering. ‘It sounded urgent. What have you done now?’ Leo ignored the words, moving into the sitting room, pulling off his coat as he sat in front of the log fire. ‘Jen, I’m getting married.’ Leo instantly regretted his decision to go for the direct approach. Jen’s face set into a mask of anger. ‘What!’ ‘If she’ll have me, I’m getting married.’ ‘And the unlucky woman is?’ ‘Margaret.’ ‘Who?’ ‘My assistant.’ Jen laughed. ‘You must be desperate Leo. Reduced to dating your staff. Still, it could be worse, I suppose. It could have been someone who wasn’t even old enough to be your daughter.’ Leo got up, pulling his coat on. ‘You done?’ ‘I almost feel sorry for you Leo. When I think of what people will say. And what people will think.’ ‘I don’t care.’ ‘Obviously not.’ Leo walked into the hallway. ‘Mallory knows. I told her.’ Jen couldn’t help the flash of jealousy. ‘Before me?’ ‘Yuh. She was happy for me.’ Margaret pulled the front door open. ‘I’m sure she was. She didn’t have to live with you. Or rather, without you. At least Margaret will get to see you at work.’ When she heard Leo’s car pull away from the pavement outside the house, Jenny dropped to the floor, her whole body shaking as she sobbed.   *************** ‘Leo’s getting married.’ Abbey rolled to face her husband. ‘Jed!’ ‘He is. He’s marrying Margaret. And I said I’d be Best Man.’ ‘And when is all this happening?’ ‘When he asks her. I think I’ll talk to him about…’ Groaning, Abbey rolled onto her side and pulled a pillow over her head. *********** Staring at the ceiling, Leo tried not to think about how many hours he’d lain awake. It must be almost time to get up, and he’d barely slept. He had been cross at Jed’s comments, reassured by Mallory, then angry at Jen. And his anger was keeping him awake. He found it hard to remember any of the conversation he’d had with Mallory. But he remembered every word of the one he’d had with Jen. Yeah, Margaret was his assistant. And yeah, she was younger than he was. And yeah, people would talk… The alarm clock’s insistent buzz made him jump. Yawning, he pulled himself out of bed. As he showered and dressed, he wondered if today would be the day he’d ask Margaret to marry him. Click to go to Part Two Home Send me feedback on this fic Return to the West Wing Fic Index