Chapter Text
Chapter 1
Bill stood in the centre of an animated conversation with a group Senators and Governors in the bustling ballroom. His campaign manager was trying to make the most of their time in New York, fundraisers and rally’s stacked back to back for the whole three days, he loved the energy and the pace but it had been a long 6 months of campaigning and his body was starting to tire. Bill knew he was taking on too much but he was determined it was what he needed to do to succeed, about to excuse himself from the group something caught his eye, his head jolted up and he craned his neck to make sure he wasn’t seeing things and sure as hell it was her, Hillary Rodham. His breath caught in his throat it was almost 16 years since he had seen her and it felt almost like yesterday. Bill watched she walked confidently into the room her arm alongside the senator from New York Mark Anderson, he was from a rich family background, single, cultured and handsome and for a minute he felt a pang of jealousy. Bill didn’t notice that he was staring at her, he was too busy drinking in the sight of her. Her beautiful curves wrapped in a fitted black velvet dress with a sweetheart neckline pulling her in, in all the right places that stopped just below her knee, blonde sleek hair perfectly straight and cut above her shoulders, no coke bottle glasses and she was wearing makeup, he had never seen her wear makeup she point blank but politely refused when his mother had tried to give her make up lessons the day after she met her for the first time. The others in the group were beginning to notice him staring as was his campaign manager who patted him on the back a little more forcefully than necessary trying to snap him back to reality.
“What is it John?”
“I was just telling Senator McGovern you would love to talk to him privately tomorrow if he had time”
“Yes definitely” bill replied smiling charmingly at the senator he once worked for.
“Well I’m sure I can fit you in”
“Great, well if you’ll excuse me I see someone I really should say hello to.”
He shook the senator’s hand and turned and began to walk in the direction he had been staring.
As he approached her his stomach began to do summersaults. What on earth was he going to say to her? It’s not like things had ended well all those years ago but there was no going back now that he was standing right behind her now and the man she was talking to had noticed him lurking behind her awkwardly which broke their conversation as Hillary noticed his eyes had drifted off behind her and turned to him smiling. Her smile soon faded as she saw who it was.
“Hi Hillary” she was genuinely at a loss for words that had to be a first.
“Bill.” It was all she could manage to say momentarily stunned.
“How are you?” Hi smiled his eyes twinkling at her.
“What are you doing here?” It wasn’t until it came out of her mouth that she heard how rude it sounded. “I’m sorry I... I’m just so surprised to see you”
“Well it’s a fundraiser for my campaign” he chuckled at her dazzled expression.
“I know but I didn’t think you were going to be here” She shot a sharp quick look in Mark’s direction.
“Me either we moved somethings around to get here. I couldn’t believe it was you, it’s so great to see you” His genuine smile and soft eyes peered into hers as she took in the sight of him. Seeing him all over newspapers and television screens were one thing. Being faced with him was very definitely another.
“This is Senator Mark Anderson from New York”
“Yes we’ve already met on the campaign trail. How are you senator?”
“I’m well, good to see you again. How is the campaign going, your numbers are looking good.” Hillary watched as the two exchanged a handshake and pleasantries shaking herself to her senses and trying not to admire him.
“Pretty good for right now it’s still a bit too close for my liking but 5 more months and it will be all over. It’s been a fantastic ride.”
“I wasn’t aware you two knew each other” Mark looked at Hillary smiling a little puzzled.
She opened her mouth to respond but Bill got there before her.
“We dated back in Yale.” Bill smiled proudly as he watched the senators face drop but seemed unable to take his eyes off Hillary as she cleared her throat uncomfortable by the attention.
“Yes it was a lifetime ago” she added trying to appear as nonchalant as possible as she took a large sip of her wine.
“How have you been Hillary?”
“I’m good, I’m working in family law, I do some advocacy work with the children’s defense fund in New York and I’ve been doing some consultation work for Mark on the children’s healthcare bill.”
“It’s more than that she’s practically written the whole thing”
“It’s been a team effort really”
“That’s great Hilly, You’re where you’ve always wanted to be, it suits you, you’ve never looked better”
“Yes well…” She nodded trying not to get too lost in his eyes grateful her makeup was probably covering her blushing cheeks.
“It’s pretty great alright, it would be even better if we could get the damn thing through the house but we can’t get everything we want.” Mark took a sip of his drink as he watched the two of them glance back and forth at each other trying to avoid eye contact.
“We will get there, besides having a democrat in office would surely help our cause” Hillary found herself smiling at him affectionately.
“Well if I do get into office in November, Children’s health care is one of my priorities. I’ve read the current bill it’s great but there are some area’s I’d change.”
“Such as?” She raised an eyebrow, the protectiveness of her work suddenly fiercely apparent but loving the challenge he was starting to put in front of her. She had never shied away from a challenge and she defiantly wasn’t going to start that now. Bill couldn’t
help the feeling that he was being saved by the bell when he saw john approach him.
“What is it John?” He sighed.
“Governor, I hate to interrupt but Mr Randall is leaving and you did promise him five minutes”
“It looks like I’m off the hook” He winked at Hillary and she felt a flush of red go to her cheeks. “Good to see you Hill” He smiled taking in the sight of her “And you of course Senator and thank you for stumping for me in New York”
“Anytime” Mark smiled at him and shook his hand before he was pulled into the crowd behind him.
“So…. “Mark looked at Hillary smirk on his face eyebrows raised.
“So what?”
“You left out the little detail that you dated the next president of the United States Hillary, I’ve known you for 15 years how did I not know that?”
“Like I said, it was a lifetime ago. We were only Kids. “
“Mmmhmm. You don’t light up like that for some stupid fling you had in college spill it”
“Oh shut up Mark or I’ll tell Stephen you were eyeing up that waiter when we came in here”
“Oh my god he was the guy” She grabbed another glass of red from the passing waitress and took a large drink.
“What are you even talking about?”
“The guy, when you came to New York you were just after breaking up with someone, it was him wasn’t it?”
“Yes ok? You happy now?”
“Oh my god, the great love of your life is the next president of the United States”
“Mark I swear to god if you don’t be quiet I’m going to end up murdering you”
“Aw Hillary he’s perfect for you”
“Will you stop it. I can’t believe I let you talk me into coming with you tonight you told me it was a DNC fundraiser not a Clinton campaign fundraiser you are in so much trouble.”
“Stop trying to change the subject. He’s hot and single and I can definitely see it”
“We broke up for a reason ok? We didn’t work then and we definitely would not work now.”
“Well I think it was fate you coming here with me tonight. Remember now when your first lady of the United States I will be expecting all the thanks for getting you two back together”
“Oh Mark I swear to god if you don’t drop it I’m going home this minute, it’s not fate me coming here with you, your other half made me because I owe him a favor and to be honest I’d much rather he was here than me”
“Ok, ok” He held up his hands and took her arm through his.
“Let’s go find a proper bar in this place I’ll buy you a martini to apologize we could both do with something better than this cheap red”
Bill stood at the opposite end of the room trying to keep up with the conversation coming from Mr Randall, one of his largest donors. But he couldn’t help but watch Hillary from a distance laughing and conversing with Mark, he wondered if they were together or if not how her life was, if she thought of him as much as he thought of her. He wouldn’t admit it but he had compared every single woman he was ever with to her, they had never even come close.
As the event drew to a close Mark had abandoned Hillary for an animated conversation with a potential donor and she had retired to the bar to get herself another drink. After ordering her drink she swore she could feel someone standing behind her and she turned to find Bill smiling sheepishly behind her.
“Governor what can I do for you?”
“You don’t have to call me Governor Hilly” Bill stood next to her and ordered himself a scotch.
“Well what can I do for you Bill then?” He really had no idea what he was doing following her around but he decided pretty quickly he was just struggling to find the right way of putting it.
“Well I was wondering.. You know if.. well” she chuckled to herself watching him struggle.
“Well?
“If you would maybe like to have a drink and catch up?”
“Isn’t that what we are doing?” she held up her glass and gestured to his.
“Well I’d prefer to do it somewhere I’m not going to be dragged away every 2 minutes. I have a suite upstairs where we can talk.” She looked down into her martini glass.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea Bill”
“I’m sorry I shouldn’t have asked. I mean you came with Senator Anderson I should have guessed really” At that she laughed loudly.
“You think I’m with Mark?” her laughter continuing and getting more uncontrollable.
“What’s so funny?” His smile was replaced with confusion.
“You know Mark is Gay?”
“Is he?” she nodded still trying to control her laughter.
“Mark and Stephen are two of my best Friends. Stephen couldn’t make it tonight and he called in a pretty large favor in getting me to come with Mark so he wouldn’t be alone.”
“I’m sorry” he couldn’t help but smile when he heard her raucous laughter, god he had missed it.
“So then why can’t we have a drink? Do you have a husband at home waiting for you?”
“No… no husband. I just think we shouldn’t”
“Oh come on. I just want to catch up with you. I can tell you how to fix that bill of yours” he smirked waiting for her to take the bait.
“Hey hang on that Bill is perfectly sound and we got every democratic vote in the house, it’s the republicans that are the problem”
“So the drink then?” He was full on smiling now and Hillary let out a small sigh as she shook her head feeling herself relenting.
“Ok, but just one. I have an early meeting tomorrow.”
TBC