Chapter Text
“Babe, are you sure?”
Ben smiled, rocking a whimpering Westley in his arms. “Leslie, we talked about this. We can’t hide them away forever.”
Leslie made a face. “Well, we can try,” she mumbled.
“Sweetheart, the longer we wait, the harder it will be, and the harder the tabloids will try to get pictures their own way. This way it will be on our terms.”
Ben sighed gratefully when Wes started to settle and he put him back in his carrier. He and Leslie had talked and agreed that the official Presidential Christmas Cards would be the perfect opportunity to share their first official family photo with the world, and hopefully appease the rabid media.
And right now, in the foyer of the Capitol Building dressed in their Christmas best with three fussy infants, was not the the place to have this discussion–again.
But he understood her fears and apprehensions even though he was trying his best to be the voice of reason. He hated that she felt this way because of all that they’ve been through.
In another world, a different world, where a crazed terrorist didn’t haunt their every moment, he knew that Leslie would be the first to want to show her children off to her country, not living in constant fear that something would happen to tear them away from her.
Leslie’s crouched over Sonia’s carrier, smoothing over invisible wrinkles in her frilly, red dress and looking at her with a love that never fails to make Ben’s heart swell.
Love like this was still so new to him. There was a time in his life when he swore he’d never have this, a family. People he loved so much that he’d gladly die a thousand deaths for. People that loved him just as much back.
There are moments when he has to pinch himself to make sure this is all real, when he wakes up with Leslie curled against his chest or feels his children’s soft skin against his own, rough and scarred.
Ben could tell the photographer was starting to get a little restless but wouldn’t dare try to hurry the President along.
“Honey?” he said as he knelt down next to her, rubbing her back while he ran a gentle finger across Sonia’s cheek. “The photographer is all set up. It’s time.”
With a final nod and deep breath, Leslie grabbed Sonia and pulled her against her chest. Ben did the same with Stephen and Westley, balancing them in his arms in the way he had perfected in the last several months.
If anyone had told him 5 years ago that he’d be standing in the foyer of the most famous building in the country waiting to have his picture taken as the First Family, he’d have thought them even more insane than he was.
But this was his life now, and as hard as it had been, as many times as he had wanted to give up, he wouldn’t trade this for anything.
He had his wife at his side and his children safe in his arms, so when the photographer told him to smile, it felt like the most natural thing in the world.