She closed her eyes and smiled back, enjoying the way his breath felt on her lips. "It's not my birthday yet." She sat back in her chair reluctantly, wishing to deepen the kiss, but with his open office door, it wasn't an option.

"You're really going to make me wait-" he paused as he checked his watch, "-seven hours and forty-three minutes to tell you that?"

"Of course, Skipper. Someone's got to keep you on your toes," she said seductively, with a wicked smile. "Victors. Seven o'clock. Then, there will be walking in the park where there could be definite makeout possibilities."

He narrowed his eyes. "Aren't you forgetting something?"

"Like what?" she asked, poster-child for innocence.

"The same statement you've tagged onto every one of our dates."

She stood and smiled again, leaning in to whisper seductively in his ear. "I didn't forget anything, Sam."

He watched her saunter out and leaned back in his chair. Oh, today just got significantly better.

* * * * *

"Is Donna still mad at you about the thing you did?" Sam asked as he took a seat at one of the tables in the mess.

Josh dropped his fork in frustrastion. "Why does everyone think it's something I did? Like I have control over my work load?"

"You could have let her leave earlier. She had a date," Sam pointed out.

"I had to stay at work. So does my assistant."

"Because I'm sure she needed to sit with you as you took hour long phone conversations with three senators."

Josh narrowed his eyes. "Who's side are you on? Dilbert was a gomer! When he picked her up last time, he was wearing these... these-... pants!" he explained vibrantly, as if the hand motions would convey his message.

"I would hope so. Hate to see the guy who comes to the White House *without* pants."

The older man rolled his eyes. "They were leather or something. Like he thinks he's Steven Tyler."

Sam paused, mid-chew. "His name was Dilbert and he was wearing leather pants?"

"You see?!"

"I'm slightly disturbed by the image of this Dilbert in leather pants."

"Okay. I know I brought it up, but drop the pants thing already."

"Sorry. While I see your point in wanting to keep Donna away from Dilbert and his leather pants-"

"Sam!"

"-Sorry... While your heart was in the right place, I'm fairly certain that's something Donna will never, ever see."

"So I have your support that I did the right thing?" Josh asked hopefully.

"If I say yes, you'll tell Donna that I think it was a good idea. She'll then, get together with Cathy, and they'll plot my demise." He looked thoughtful for a moment. "No."

"What happened to loyalty?"

"It went out the door about the same time my plans for having my assistant poison my coffee did."

He sighed and they ate in slience for a while. Josh was pushing his food around on his plate, trying to come up with another conversation that didn't revolve around Donna or leather pants. "How's Mallory?" he finally asked.

Sam's smile brightened. "Good. Great, We're having dinner for her birthday."

"When?"

"Tonight."

"No, really? Being her birthday and all I would have never guessed."

Sam rolled his eyes. "No need to get grouchy. Seven. We're eating at Victors."

Donna strolled up at the tail of his sentence, nothing but a cool, calm, and impersonal demeanor towards her boss. "Joshua, Leo needs to see you. He said it was important."

The Deputy Chief of Staff stood and gathered his small tray. "I'll see you later, Sam."

Donna began to leave after Josh, but stopped when Sam called out to her.

She turned around. "Yes?"

"Leather pants?"

The smile slipped from her face and she stalked angrily away, but Sam couldn't keep the small grin off his face.

* * * * *

"So they're eating at seven," Leo McGarry clarified. Josh nodded.

"Okay, I want you to tell everyone. It'll be no later then eight."

"You got it," he called as he left the Chief of Staffs office to begin making the calls.

* * * * *

Mallory O'Brian slipped on her black pumps and turned to admire herself in the mirror. Her strappy black dress fell just above her knees and it left just enough to the imagination that it would drive Sam wild. She felt beautiful. Mallory had made sure to wear the matching bra and panty set she bought. If the dress didn't do it, the red lace surely would.

Mallory snatched up her small evening purse and locked the door behind her.

* * * * *

"Sam!"

He turned and slowed as he heard his name shouted across the bullpen.

"Are we cool?" Josh asked as soon as he was close enough to avoid eavesdroppers. "Yeah. Why?"

"Well, I heard about the coffee thing."

Sam's winced remembering the incident from earlier in the day. "If you never bring that up again, we're okay."

Josh smiled. Despite Sam's agreement at lunch, he had mentioned Dilbert and his pants to Donna. Who, just as the younger deputy assumed, plotted with Cathy to get him back.

"Picking up Mallory?" Josh asked, noticing his best friends coat and briefcase with him.

"Yeah." He couldn't help the smile from creeping into his lips.

"You seem excited."

"Josh, this could be the night."

"Ah, the night," Josh smiled knowingly, then shook his head acknowledging that he had no clue. "What are we talking about?"

"*The* night, Josh. She didn't add the little thing she does."

"What thing?"

"The one where she guarentees I will not be having sex." He could barely keep from rocking on his toes. "Listen, I don't want to be late. I'll see you tomorrow." He gave Josh another smile and hurried off.

Josh, could only stand there, wincing slightly and feeling guilty about events Sam would have no knowledge of. He breifly debated running to catch Sam, but what would he tell him? Josh had, inadvertantly, ruined Sam's evening before it even started.

* * * * *

"I'm glad we came here. It's nice," Mallory said, enjoying the cozy atmosphere that the small Italian restuarant provided.

"I thought you'd like it." Sam took a sip of his water and took in the sight of her. The simple black dress she wore hugged her in all the right places. It was dressy but not overly so and she looked comfortable in it, which only made it more attractive.

"How's the fettucini?" She asked.

"Delicious. Want some?" Sam offered, gathering a small pile of the pasta on his fork. In response, Mallory leaned forward and Sam spooned it into her mouth. "Mmmm. It is good. Thank you." He smiled warmly at her.

The night went by quickly and without incident. Sam payed for dinner and walked Mallory to the door, the perfect gentleman.

He also managed to walk into a plant that was situated next to the door. "Are you okay?" Mallory asked through her fit of giggles.

"I'm fine," he replied, trying to brush some of the dirt away from the doorway with his foot. "At least I made it through dinner before one of my inevitable moments of clumsiness occoured." She rocked up on her toes and placed a light kiss at his temple. "It's one of the things I find endearing about you."

"Maybe I should run into potted plants more often," he said as he finally led her outside.

"I wouldn't worry about that, Skipper. You seem to be doing fine without even trying."

"Well, if I knew I'd get a kiss everytime I ran into something, I'd do it more often when you're around."

"Don't count on it," Mallory replied, shivering slightly in the cool night air. Sam took his jacket off and placed it around her shoulders, pulling on the lapels so she turned to face him. He reached inside his coat, hand brushing against Mallory's stomach, and pulled out a small, rectangular velvet box. "Happy birthday," he said.

"You bought me a present, Skipper?"

"Of course. And I even waited to present it until eight twenty-
seven." Sam handed her the small package and watched as she opened it.

Mallory's eyes went wide. "Sam, it's beautiful." She pulled out the silver chain and let the moonlight reflect off of it. "I love it."

He took it gently from her hands and fastened the clasp around her neck. She fingered it with one hand, while placing the other behind Sam's neck to draw him down to her. "Thank you," she whispered, before capturing his lips. He draped a hand around her back as he reciprocated gently.

When they finally broke apart, Mallory kept her eyes closed for a minute, her lips lingering inches from Sam's. She swallowed. "Do you want to get the car?"

He opened his eyes, a puzzled expression coming over them. "I thought there was going to be walking and makeout oppourtunities."

"Sam," Mallory repeated slowly, meeting his eyes. "Do you want to get the car?"

"Oh." Then realization dawned on him. "Oh!" He fumbled for the keys, finally finding them and retrieving the car. He got out again and opened the door for Mallory.

Sam drove to her house quickly, her hand climbing up his thigh the entire way. When he parked in her driveway, and got out of the car, he tripped on a rock, but caught himself before falling completely on his face. She hurried over to him. "Are you hurt?" she asked, bending down next to him. "Only my pride," he replied self-
depricatingly.

She helped him up. "That one deserves a kiss."

"I was hoping you'd say that," he whispered as she pulled him down for a kiss, much more passionate then when he walked into the plant.

He slid his hands inside of the coat and let them rest on her hips. Mallory backed him up against the car as she ran her hands through his hair. They broke for air as she moved her lips to his neck and Sam gasped as they grazed his collarbone. He moaned into her hair and bent his head to kiss the top of her ear.

She pulled back from where she was lightly dotting kisses along his throat and looked up at him. He realized she'd stopped and looked at her again, concerned. "Is something wrong?"

"No," she breathed. "Will you come inside?"

He brushed back a strand of hair from her forehead and noticed that she was much softer then she usually was. She was almost tentative in asking him, and he knew that this would be different from the other times he went with her. "I tought you'd never ask."

She smiled warmly and led the way up the front steps to the door, his hands on her waist and stomach pressed against her back the entire time. She managed to unlock the door and shut it behind her.

While they were, technically, in her house, this was only the entry. It was a small room about six by six where she left her purse and coat so they wouldn't clutter the rest of the house, and they still had another door to open before they'd reach the living room. This didn't stop Sam from running his lips over the back of her neck before they got there, though. She turned to face him and wrapped her arms around his neck, causing the coat to fall off her shoulders and to the ground.

She was gaining courage and loosened his tie, pulling it off over his head. Her hands then fumbled with the buttons of his dress shirt.

Sam wasn't making it any easier. He had pulled the zipper down on her dress and was running his hands along her back. She lowered her arms and it fell to the floor. Mallory pushed the shirt off his shoulders and let it pile with the rest of the clothes.

Sam stepped back and admired the beautiful woman in front of him, who was toeing her shoes off. The red lace bra and panties were the only thing decorating her besides the necklace he'd given her. He stared at her in the dark. "You're magnificent," he whispered.

"I want you." She closed the distance between them and placed her hands on his chest. She met his eyes, noticing the deep blue that colored them. "Take me to bed, Sam."

He found her lips again, gently this time and reached for the door handle. It turned easily, and he backed her into the room, where they fell backwards over the couch arm, Sam on top of Mallory.

Then the lights went on. "Surprise!"

Mallory jumped up and yelped, knocking both her and Sam to the floor in front of the coffee table.

Gasps were heard around the room, but one distinct voice was clear. "Mallory!" Leo growled.

"Daddy!" She looked around the room. CJ, Josh, Toby, Donna, the President, Abbey, her mother and father and various friends from Clearlake were standing around the room. There was a large banner hung on the wall brandishing the words 'Happy Birthday!' in large red letters and a few balloons were tied to a chair.

"Oh my God," she whispered. "This is not happening."

Sam's eyes were wide and his face beet red. "Oh G-god," he stuttered.

Leo took a step forward. "What the hell is going on here?!"

"Don't be niave, Leo," Jed warned. "I'm pretty sure you know what's going on here."

"Where the hell are your clothes?" he demanded, ignoring his friend. That's when Mallory realized she was only in her underwear. "Oh my God," she said again, shutting her eyes and hoping it would all be a dream.

CJ grabbed Josh's arm and dragged him into the kitchen. Thankfully, he had enough tact to follow and so did the others. "Mallory," Jenny began after everyone had left the room except her father, mother, and Sam. "How could you do that with *him*?" she asked, her tone conveying her disgust.

Mallory was on the verge of tears, comletely humiliated at being caught and then scolded in front of people she respected and liked.

"He sleeps with hookers for Gods sake!"

That's when she lost it. "Stop it! Stop talking about him as if he's not here. I love him and you work with him and that should be enough for you to respect him! I appreciate the party, but I don't need to be scolded like a five year old in front of my friends! I am a grown woman, and this situation should have been embarrasing at best. Not an oppourtunity for you to show your distaste with my life!"

Her voice got quieter. "Sam and I are going to get dressed and then come enjoy my birthday party. If you can't live with that without flying off the handle and being rude to me and people I like, then you can leave."

She stood up and grabbed the blanket that was draped over the back of the couch, then offered Sam her hand. He looked at it and then Mallory, before accepting and following her to the entry to gather their clothes. They quickly made their way back to Mallory's bedroom.

"I don't like her with that boy," Jenny told her ex-husband.

Leo stared at the door of his daughters bedroom. "I don't think we get a say anymore," he said softly, wondering when his baby girl had grown up so fast.

* * * * *

The silence in the small bedroom was uncomfortable as both people dressed quickly, keeping their eyes anywhere but on each other.

As Mallory slipped her shoe on, she faced Sam. "I'm sorry."

He looked up from where he was tucking his shirt in. "It's not your fault. It was just a... surprise," he added, for lack of a better word.

She laughed, the tension between them easing. "A surprise. That's exactly what it was."

Sam sat down on her bed to re-tie his shoes. She crossed over and pulled his face up with her hand. "This is going to happen, Skipper," she said softly. "Don't you worry about that."

Her tone was gentle and reassuring to Sam, banishing any uncertainties he might felt. He pulled her down to sit in his lap and she let her head rest on his shoulder. They sat there for a moment in the peaceful quiet of her dark room and just relaxed.

Mallory knew that the longer they stayed in her room, the closer her father was to having a heart attack. She reluctanly pulled back and stood up and Sam sighed at the loss of contact. "C'mon Skipper. It won't be that bad," she said, straightening his lapels.

Sam watched as Mallory walked to the door, completely oblivious to how beautiful she was. Her hair was still tousled from where he had ran his hands through it and she looked slightly rumpled. But, in the way she carried herself, unworried about what would happen when they stepped out from behind the door, she was the most stunning woman he'd ever seen.

"I love you."

It was said on a breath and Mallory turned around gracefully, finding his eyes. She looked as if she might cry, but gave him a half smile as she closed the distance between them. "I love you, too," she whispered, kissing him lightly.

* * * * *

"What do you suppose their doing in there?" Josh asked, leaning forward in his chair.

"Y'know, just when I think you might have some tact left in you, there you go, proving me wrong, once again," CJ said in disbelief.

Josh opened his mouth in retort, but left it hanging open when the bedroom door opened, Mallory and Sam walking out hand in hand.

Everyone stood. "Surprise," they chourused, much less convincingly then the first time.

Mallory had to laugh at their attmepts, which lightened the mood. "I know for a surprise party, the element of surprise is necessary, but next time you should really call first."

The group shared a laugh. "Listen, Mal... We didn't mean to..." Leo couldn't finish the sentence.

She brushed off his attempt at an appology, because in her mind, it wasn't necessary. Well, not for that anyhow. She gestured around to the room and party decorations. "So where is this party you guys claim to be surprising me with?" she asked playfully.

"I think it'd get off the ground much faster if you put on that little number you had on before," Josh said.

Donna smacked him upside the head playfully.

"What was that for?" he asked, pressing his hand to his jaw.

"Leather pants are unnacceptable, but somehow underwear made the 'okay' list?"

The tiff developing between Josh and Donna was quickly forgotten as the stereo was turned on and people started offering their birthday wishes to Mallory.

* * * * *

"I'm really am sorry about tonight," Mallory sighed, leaning back into Sam's embrace. They had settled into her bed after everyone had left, taking advantage of the now quiet house.

He ran his hand up and down her arm and kissed the back of her head. "Not your fault," he mumbled.

"Tired, Skipper?" she asked, rolling over to look into his eyes.

"It's been a long day."

She glanced at the clock. "Well, it's over now. Why don't you get some sleep?"

"I should go home," he said earnestly, but made no move to pull away.

"Or you could stay here," she offered.

"In your bed?"

She nodded against his chest.

He tried to meet her eyes. "Why, Ms. O'Brien, I do believe your trying to seduce me."

"Oh, you believe that, huh?" she whispered, her breath falling on his lips.

Sam swallowed, nodding vaguely as she lightly brushed her lips over his. She smiled against him as he reciprocated before rolling him on his back and pulling away. Sam opened his eyes, confused. "Why'd you stop?"

"The rest is for another night. Preferably just like tonight, minus all the guests."

"You're such a tease, Mallory."

"That's why you love me." She couldn't contain her grin as she settled her head into his chest, her fingers drifting up to her neck, delicately fingering the chain there.

"Happy birthday, Mal. I love you," he whispered.

She closed her eyes. "I love you, too."