When Donna realised it hit her like a ton of bricks.

She hadn't realised at first, in fact later her complete and utter denial of the situation would amuse her. She was tired. A couple months into a new job it came with the territory. Her back ached. It was those damn heels. Her bra was too tight. She must be gaining weight. She had scolded herself for that one, she shouldn't let Josh convince her eat takeout every other night. Her late period, well she had been so busy she hadn't even noticed that one.

It was a cold night in February when she did notice. Josh was working late, he was finishing up in the sit room after some military issue in Qumar and it was going to keep him in the office until the early hours of the morning. Donna didn't mind she expected nights like this and her plan included a quiet night with a bubble bath and a book. She did however take the opportunity to pick up some groceries. That's when it happened. Standing in the toiletries aisle in Walmart searching for toothpaste when the box of tampons caught her eye. Her shopping cart was immediately forgotten instead she quickly found a test and headed straight to the cash register, then the customer toilets where she waited an agonizing amount of time waiting for the test to confirm what she already knew.

Donna's first reaction was Joy, an immense rush of emotion that overwhelmed her and brought tears to her eyes. Her heart was racing, no pounding, her thoughts rushed through her head a mile a minute, that's when the panic set in. This couldn't be happening, she couldn't do this. Mrs Santos was relying on her, Josh wouldn't want this. They had only been together for three months. Two months into a new job, into arguably the most important job in the country, certainly one of the most powerful and the most important of his career. He didn't have time to deal with this right now. He shouldn't have to. He loved her, but he loved Donna not pregnant Donna and he shouldn't have to do this, not yet, not with the president depending on him, when he was so busy. When all eyes were on the President, Josh and the administration he had helped create.

And what would everyone think? The Staff knew they were together of course but they didn't know the history, they probably thought their relationship was far more casual than it actually was, wouldn't realise that they practically lived together and Donna, at least fully expected to spend the rest of her life with Josh. From Santos' new administration it was only Sam who had witnessed their relationship from the beginning. Only Sam could possibly understand how meaningful their relationship was, especially since they had been keeping so quiet since the inauguration.

With that a new wave of panic set in. Her heart began pounding more quickly than she thought was even possible. Only Sam would understand! They had kept things quiet, tried to avoid the press, they didn't want to distract from the president. They had told her parents and his Mom, but as for President Bartlet's senior staff and the former President himself they hadn't called to tell them. They had spoken but so much of the conversation had been about their new lives outside the white house and Josh and her own new roles still in Washington. The honeymoon phase had been great and now Donna felt foolish for allowing it to carry on for so long. They hadn't told people who deserved to know and now it would seem like they were only telling people they were together because they had to.

"Donna? Donna are you ok?"

The interruption took a moment for Donna to register in the quite hustle of the bullpen but when it did she jumped forward knocking a stapler of the desk which sobered her. She quickly retrieved the stapler and turned to respond, straightening her skirt as she did so.

"Sorry Sam, was just lost in thought, can I help you with something?"

"You're not an assistant anymore Donna, I asked if you're ok?" Donna grimaced slightly at his words and inhaled deeply.

"Yes, Yes of course" she gulped "nothing thought I'd come by and see Josh?"

"He did let you know he's going to be in the sit room for a while"

"What? Oh, yes he sent a message to my office its ok I can wait at my desk" she slumped down into the chair quickly and spun round to face the desk averting her eyes from Sam.

"Donna really what's wrong, you can tell me" Sam insisted sitting down on the corner of the desk next to her.

Donna averted her eyes again but this time spoke in a much louder voice.

"I'm fine Sam, really, I really don't know why you think there is something wrong, you must have something else to do"

"Well for a start this is Mindy's desk now not yours, you are sitting outside my office not Josh's and its half 10 on a Friday night and he just sent me home so I really doubt he's going to be in this part of the building again tonight." Donna just smiled weakly

"I'll be okay really Sam"

"You could have fooled me. Something's bothering you, you're distracted out of your wits. come on, I'll walk you home" Sam replied

"But Jo-" Donna practically whined before being interrupted.

"Will be home as soon as he is finished in the sit room he doesn't like spending as much time in the office anymore and I have the strongest feeling it has nothing to with the administration." Donna just smiled weakly again and rose from her chair.

"Okay let's go" Donna adjusted her coat and made for the door Sam followed closely behind as they made their way out of the west wing in to the crisp Washington air. They didn't speak again until they reached the gate.

"So, are you going to tell me what's bothering you?" Donna stared fixatedly forward as she responded.

"I can't, its bad I mean not bad but big, it could end up bad, but not awful it could also be good, really, really good. Maybe I just can't"

"Okay" Sam smiled he had a feeling he knew what this might be.

"It's just I should tell Josh first"

"Okay Donna"

"I mean we would tell you too, soon probably"

"I Understand Donna"

"It's just I really can't tell you yet"

"that's fine we can just walk, back to Josh's"

"I'm Pregnant" Donna blurted the words out quickly and stopped her brisk walk quite suddenly on the sidewalk causing Sam to walk a few paces ahead of her.

"You're pregnant?" He smiled spinning around to face her. Donna just nodded nervously.

"Donna that's brilliant!" Sam exclaimed crashing into with a hug.

"I'm so happy for you, for both of you. All three of you in fact" Sam said giddy with excitement.

"Really?"

"Of course," Sam said sincerely he was wearing that massive smile that Donna had so often found infectious. She returned the smile half-heartedly because it wasn't that she wasn't more than a little bit happy, she was just terrified. And suddenly all her fears came spilling out.

"But it's not a good time and we haven't been together long and Josh is so busy as it is. I mean his job ended Leo's marriage and we only just started dating how are we meant to deal with it all when it's so new. Josh didn't sign up for this. And then there's my job too I'm in a much more important position now people rely on me, the first lady relies on me. And it will mean bad press for Josh and therefore the administration and we haven't told people we are together I mean you know and everyone here knows but CJ and Toby and Charlie and President Bartlet."

"hey hey hey, Donna stop" Donna paused and sighed deeply waiting for Sam to respond to her dilemma."

"you seriously didn't think everyone knew?" Sam laughed , Donna looked stricken

"They all know, how?" Sam was in fits of laughter by now.

"There was a picture of The President and The First Lady at the inauguration, on the front page of the Washington Post with you and Josh standing next to them holding hands."

"but we were standing next to the President and the First Lady we didn't think anyone would notice" Donna wailed. Sam attempted to sober himself.

"We have known you for a pretty long time Donna and we tend to recognise you on the front page of major newspapers." Donna began to protest but Sam interrupted her. "Charlie sent copies to President Bartlet, CJ and Danny, Toby, Will, Ainsley, Mallory all the assistants pretty much everyone"

"Why would he do that?" This time Sam was the one to look nervous.

"Well he won the pool" he mumbled. Donna rolled her eyes and took off walking so fast that Sam had to jog to catch up with her.

"And they didn't even say anything" Sam just chuckled falling in to step next to her.

"You don't need to freak out like this you know."

"I do though Sam, this is a big deal a really big deal."

"I'm not saying it isn't but" he paused for a second and then changed tactics. "Donna has Josh said I love you yet?" This made Donna fly to halt again.

"Well yes we said it quickly but" Sam interrupted her before she could launch into another rant.

"Quickly, you and Josh said I love you anything but quickly, glaciers have melted quicker than you said I love you. President Bartlet was commander in chief for almost two terms before you said I love you. Josh has been in love you for eight freaking years. And yes, maybe the press will notice and maybe you'll need to take a few months off work, at a job where you and Josh are in this white house to advocate for people, including people who want a family and a career all at the same time. And maybe people are trying to give you a bit of space and give themselves a bit of space because frankly you're both nauseating. But you guys survived bullet and a bomb and you will survive a baby and if you try and tell me that you haven't loved Josh for longer than the few months you've both been smart enough to admit it then god Donna I thought you were more honest than that."

Sam paused for a moment perhaps he had gone a bit too far. Donna was just standing there blinking at him tears in her eyes when suddenly she collapsed into him burying her head in his shoulder, sobbing.

"Thank you, Sam. I'm sorry I've just been so emotional lately, its hormones I guess." Sam just placed an arm around her shoulder gently.

"Come on let's just get you home."

Thank you for reading. I'll most likely write at least one more chapter for this perhaps more if I settle on an idea and depending whether or not there's any interest. This is the first time I have anything written for The West Wing so please let me know what you think, I would really appreciate it.

Also, I have proof read this a few times but I'm not great at spotting mistakes in my own work so I apologise if I've missed anything.