Title: All the Colors of the Wind

Rating: PG

Disclaimer: Not my characters :o(

Summary: Five men think on love. Set early season five.


Josh

She's his best friend. He can't imagine his life without her. It took him nearly dying to realize how he felt, but it's been years and he still hasn't told her.

Because they're best friends. And she works for him. And – There are a thousand reasons he can think of to stay away.

He knows he'll only end up hurting her. He's never been good at relationships. Ask Mandy. Ask Amy. Donna knows exactly what he's like; there's no way that she'd risk giving him her heart. She doesn't know she has his.

Best friends.

Besides, she has a boyfriend.


Sam

He dreams of a blonde, blue-eyed goddess and remembers long, lazy nights. Every time the phone rings, he expects a Southern-kissed, "Hey, Sam."

But she never calls.

He wonders if they would have ended if he had stayed in DC. Josh tells him she left the White House, and he's glad for her. Really. Part of him likes to imagine she couldn't stay without him there, but he knows he's wrong.

He should have told her he loved her, he thinks, before it was too late. Because now she belongs to someone else and he knows he's missed his chance.


Charlie

He can't stop looking at her. He thinks he might be obsessed – but he's scared if he stops, she'll disappear again. He can't bear to lose her twice.

He still blames himself, which is why he can't speak to her. If he could change one thing about that night, he would never have suggested going to the party.

She looks up from her book and smiles, and his heart twists up inside. She doesn't hold him responsible, she never has – hat's not the point. He was never good enough for her.

He doesn't know she's still in love with him.


Danny

He thinks he could wait forever for her. Until then, he has to be content with playful flirting and thinly disguised innuendo. He likes to push her, enjoys seeing how far he can go until she throws him out of her office – or kisses him. He prefers the latter, for obvious reasons.

He knows the original Gail died and is pleased that she tried to cover it up. It's how he knows she cares, and he's debating whether to call her on it.

He has a Pulitzer behind him but he can't find the words to say he loves her.


Toby

His heart has never felt this full. It's hard to believe he was ever scared he wouldn't love them enough.

Molly is already Daddy's Little Girl. There is nothing he wouldn't do for her. She's only a few months old but he already has plans to kill any boy careless enough to break her heart.

He dreams of all the firsts with Huck: riding a bicycle, playing catch, teaching his son about girls.

His son. His daughter.

He wonders if he'll ever get used to it. He hopes not – every day is magical.

He has never been more in love.