Chapter Text
Melissa’s Apartment:
Wednesday, January 20, 1999 dawns at a cool, but reasonable, 25 degrees. It’s expected to be about 45 degrees when the President takes the oath of office. The DC area is still recovering from severe ice storms that hit a week ago. Luckily, Sam and Melissa never lost power in their building, but about 700,000 others across the area weren’t as lucky.
Sam and Melissa awaken from the 6:00 am alarm. Sam turns towards Melissa and strokes his finger on her cheek.
“Hey.” His voice is rough from sleep.
“Hey. It’s here. Inauguration Day.” Her voice is equally as rough from sleep, but she smiles at him in nervous excitement.
“It is.” He smiles back at her.
They hear some movement from the kitchen.
“I guess my mom’s already up and making breakfast.”
“Yeah, we’d better shower.”
In preparation for their guests staying in his apartment, Sam had brought several days’ worth of clothing down to Melissa’s apartment. Their usual routine is he sleeps at her place nearly every night, then in the morning goes up to his place to shower and dress before coming back to her place to join her for breakfast.
He props himself up on his elbow and kisses her forehead gently. “Why don’t you shower in this one and I’ll use the guest bath?”
Melissa suggests shyly, “Why don’t we shower together?”
“That would be very efficient.”
“It would.”
About thirty minutes later, Sam, Melissa, and their families are all gathered around Melissa’s dining table, supplemented with Sam’s dining chairs. It’s a tight squeeze to fit all of them around the table, but they make do. Anna, Lydia, and Natalie have set the table with eggs, sausage, toast, fruit, yogurt, and granola, along with a pot of tea and pot of coffee.
The conversation is easy and light-hearted, as if they’ve all known each other for a long time, instead of their families meeting just yesterday.
Sam and Melissa leave for the transition offices at 7:00 am. Their families are going to just hang out for a little while, then make their way to the Capitol for the Inauguration. They don’t want to risk missing it due to ice-related travel issues, so they’ll leave early.
Old Executive Office Building, Transition Offices for President-elect Bartlet:
Leo calls an all-staff meeting in the center of the staff room. Margaret reviews the protocol for the day, including packing the transition offices, the Inauguration itself, transporting the personal items to the White House, and unpacking at the White House.
Leo gives the staff a few additional instructions, informs the staff he’s leaving the transition offices in Margaret’s capable hands to close out operations here, then tells everyone, “I’ll see you all later at the White House!” This gets smiles and a few cheers from the gathered staff.
The senior assistants have the packing well under control already and are efficiently directing the staff assistants and interns on what to do. Everyone is motivated to complete the packing quickly so they can attend the Inauguration.
Leo and the senior staff then head to Blair House to meet with the Bartlets over coffee/tea. The group reviews the day’s schedule step-by-step. After the meeting, the senior staff wait for the Bartlets to finish getting ready, then everyone gets in the motorcade to head to the Capitol.
U.S. Capitol Building:
Melissa stops herself from nervously fidgeting while everyone waits in the hall to make their entrance to the Inaugural platform. The nervous tension is broken when the Hoynes boys see her and come over to say hello. Danny hugs her legs again, which makes her smile and helps her relax.
Soon, the coordinator is instructing them on when to enter the Inaugural platform with President-elect Bartlet and Dr. Bartlet the last to enter.
****
Melissa holds Sam’s hand tightly as first her biological father, then her father figure each take the oath of office. She’s so proud of everyone for what they’ve accomplished in the past 15 months.
She leans over and whispers to Sam, “It doesn’t seem real yet.”
He smiles at her, “I know, but it is.” He squeezes her gloved hand.
They watch as Bartlet gives his Inaugural Address. The final product is a work of art. Melissa is so proud of Sam and Toby for their work on that speech she gets a bit teary-eyed. She’d read the final draft and heard Bartlet practicing it, but hearing it at the Inauguration gives it a different aura.
“Oh Sam, that was incredible!”
He looks a bit bashful at the praise. She turns around and congratulates Toby as well and he simply gives her a stoic, but pleased nod.
The White House:
While the Bartlet and Hoynes families attend the Inaugural Parade, the senior staff arrive at the White House for the first time. Key practicalities had been taken care of during transition when they were issued White House IDs and when they each met with the decorator to choose their office furniture. The logistics of moving their belongings from the transition offices to their new White House offices was handled by the army of assistants and interns.
Melissa walks with Sam to his office. He’d decided against a couch, opting instead for two guest chairs. His assistant Cathy has started unpacking his personal belongings.
“Wow, Cathy, it’s looking good.” Melissa notes.
“Yup, getting there.” Cathy smiles at her.
Sam then escorts Melissa to her office, which is on the other side of the lobby next to Josh’s office. Sarah is working on setting up her own desk in the bullpen.
“Hey Sarah.”
“Hi Melissa. I’ve finished unpacking your box. Your desk was in the wrong direction, it would have had your deaf side to the door, so Donna helped me move it.”
“Thanks so much, that’s really thoughtful.”
Sarah smiles at her, “You’re welcome.”
Melissa has brought a lot less stuff for her office than Sam has, so she isn’t surprised that Sarah’s already finished unpacking it. She’s still considering what other personal things she might want to bring in.
There’s a small couch in her office, which she sits on immediately. “Nice! It’s comfortable.” She smiles up at Sam and stands up again. She takes off her scarf and winter coat and he hangs them for her behind the door.
Last night they agreed on a rule for no-PDA-in-the-White-House-or-while-working. Melissa had suggested it, but Sam agreed it was a good idea to keep things professional.
He really wants to kiss her right now, but settles for squeezing her hand. He didn’t realize how quickly he’d want to disregard the no-PDA rule.
“I’ll see you later.” Sam smiles at her.
“Yep. See you later.” She turns around to look again at her office. She can’t stop smiling. She’s working in the White House!
*****
The senior staff’s first meeting in the Oval Office with Leo and President Bartlet is surreal. Everyone is having trouble concentrating and keeps looking around the room. The new President is equal parts irritated and amused by his staff’s lack of focus, but refrains from saying anything. They all need a little time to settle into their roles, but there really isn’t time for that.
They do accomplish a few minor things in that first meeting, including finalizing the plans for the signing of the initial three Executive Orders two hours later with press in attendance. Bartlet has decided to only sign three today and they’ll hold two other signing ceremonies in two and six days for the remainder of the Executive Orders.
*****
At the signing ceremony in the Oval Office, C.J. announces the title of each Executive Order and Melissa hands the portfolios with papers for Bartlet to sign. The press takes photos each time he signs and there are also two news cameras in the room.
Even though all she’s doing is handing him things, she’s nervous with the press there. Until now, Bartlet has shielded her from direct interaction with the press, but he’d insisted she stand next to him for this since she led the work to prepare these Executive Orders.
Bartlet takes a few questions after he’s signed all of the Executive Orders. Melissa finally relaxes as the press file out of the Oval Office.
Sam sidles up to her and whispers in her right ear, “Good job!”
She whispers back, “Sam, all I did was stand there and hand him things.”
“And you did it well and looked good doing it.”
“You’re ridiculous.” She shakes her head and smiles.
*****
All of the senior staff and their senior assistants have brought their formal clothes to the White House so they can get ready for the Inaugural Balls and leave directly in the motorcade. After he dresses in his tux, Sam goes to Melissa’s office since he knows she may need help fastening her gown. Sarah isn’t at her desk, so he knocks on Melissa’s door.
“Melissa? It’s me.”
“Come in!”
He slips into to her office. As he’d expected, she has her gown on, but it isn’t fully fastened.
“Here, let me help.”
“Thanks.” She turns around and he pulls the zipper all the way up and fastens the small hook at the top.
She turns to face him. She’s put her hair up in a loose bun, similar to how she wore it at the gala during the campaign. Her dress is a dusky rose color, floor-length with ruffles down one side of the full skirt, and has crisscrossed ruched fabric over her shoulders and across her torso. She looks classy and stylish.
“You look so beautiful.” He smiles at her gently. He really wants to kiss her again, but he reminds himself again that he’s agreed to the no-PDA rule.
“And you look very handsome. I like you in a tux.”
The way she’s looking him up and down makes him really want to kiss her now. While he initially thought this no-PDA rule was going to be a cinch, now he’s not so sure.
She picks up a sparkly clutch purse, “Are you ready to go? It’s almost motorcade time.”
“I’m ready.” He picks up her off-white velvet wrap and drapes it around her shoulders. “Are you sure you’ll be warm enough?”
“I’ll be fine, we won’t ever be outside for long.”
“Alright, if you say so.” He holds out his arm, like he did on their first date.
“Such manners!” She teases him a little and he just smiles at her as he escorts her toward the motorcade.
Inaugural Balls:
There are eight balls to attend. Sam and Melissa have gotten their families into ball five at the convention center. Once they arrive at ball five, they briefly visit with their families, then introduce them to the new President and Vice President. The Bartlets seem genuinely happy to see familiar faces from Manchester and spend as long as they can speaking with them.
Melissa introduces Hoynes to her family and he spends a few minutes speaking to all of them. When Melissa steps away for a moment to answer a question from the President, Hoynes takes Anna’s hand in both of his and says, “Ms. Maxwell, thank you for all you’ve done.”
“Oh, Mr. Vice President, I’ve been so lucky to have her in my life. Adopting her is the best choice I’ve ever made.”
“Well, she’s a remarkable young woman and a credit to you. It was very nice to meet you, to meet all of you.” He nods in a friendly manner at the Maxwell family before being pulled away to meet someone else.
*****
At the end of the night after ball eight, Sam and Melissa exit the convention center just ahead of the President. As they briefly wait outside for the President before getting into the motorcade, Sam sees Melissa shivering slightly.
Sam takes off his suit jacket and slides it around her shoulders.
“Thanks.”
He smiles at how cute she looks in the jacket several sizes too big and steals a quick kiss.
“Sam!” Melissa scolds him for breaking the no-PDA rule.
Unfortunately, simultaneous with the kiss, the President, Abbey, and their security detail exit the building and see them. They are quickly followed by Leo and the remainder of senior staff.
“Well, what do we have here?” Bartlet looks amused.
“Oh god.” Melissa whispers.
“Sorry Mr. President, I couldn’t help myself.” Sam grins, unrepentant, even though Melissa is pink from embarrassment.
Bartlet just smiles at the two of them.