A/N: Hey there, this is just a little thing I had in my documents for a rainy day. Figured I'd just put it up already.

Rating: T

Reviews: You guys have been so great, and as I approach magic review number fifty, I'd just like to thank all of my readers and reviewers for being amazing. I love you all, from the bottom, center, top, left side, and most likely the right side of my heart, as well :)

Disclaimer: You can sign my petition demanding the rights from Sorkin at my up and coming rally.

Just kidding. I own nothing.

Enjoy!

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Donna drops her files on Jamie's desk at the start of her morning break and practically skips out the door.

"Where are you off too?" He calls after her.

"Legislative affairs!"

"And what's got you in such a good mood?"

She makes no effort to dampen her smile. "I'm meeting an old friend."

She swings out the door, humming brightly. She'd been looking forward to this all morning. Admittedly, old friend was a bit of a stretch. But then again, so was meeting. More like she was surprising a former coworker, with every intention of reinstating him as the subject of her torture for as long as he would endure.

Ah, it was going to be a good day.

According to the rumors she'd heard, her target had been in for interviews last week, and today was his very first day. She'd be hard pressed to say why she was so excited to see him. The guy used to make her days a living hell, and yet, when she'd heard he was back, she'd realized just how much she'd missed him.

Swinging around the corner of the Legislative Affairs office, she stops to look around. Yes, there! There with his back to her. The curly dark hair, the distinctive slump, and, wow, the poor guy still hadn't hit a growth spurt.

Bounding forward, she grabs his shoulder, and he turns around with a start. His eyes register surprise, and slowly his face breaks into a grin.

"Donna Moss."

"If it isn't my favorite jackass." She can't keep the glee from her face. "Ryan Pierce."

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For Ryan's part, he had been intending to pay her a visit later that day. Or something. You know, when he got around to it. He was a busy guy.

"Good to see you too, doll."

Unsurprisingly, she frowns at him.

"That's still not okay? Alright, gotcha."

"How's your first day going, jackass?"

"So you can call me jackass, but doll is out of the question?"

"Yes."

"Would you prefer dollface?"

"Would you prefer assface?"

"Touche."

"So, answer the question."

"Well, I'd say my first day is going as expected. I'm on my way to running the place."

"Uh huh. So how many people have you pissed off today?"

"It's only ten o'clock."

"I know."

He smirks. "Seven."

"Hardly a record, I'm sure?"

"You'd be correct."

She leans back against his new desk, which, quite frankly, was insultingly small. But as last time he'd worked in the White House he'd only been allotted a clipboard, he hadn't gotten around to complaining just yet.

"So what's your title?" she asks.

Without hesitation, he replies "They call me Mr. Smooth." He curses himself silently. Come on, nothing better than that on hand?

She rolls her eyes. "I wasn't aware that we had a position like that open."

"They made it just for me, baby."

"Remind me again why I missed you?"

"I'm currently the assistant legislative affairs policy adviser."

"Congratulations."

"But I've never been one to let a title hold me back."

"Oh, I'm sure."

"What about you though, huh? I was just talking to Josh's new assistant earlier, so I guess he's let you off the leash."

This incurs another frown. "I'm actually Chief of Staff to the First Lady, jackass."

He raises his eyebrows, though he probably shouldn't be so surprised. Donna was intelligent and capable, of course, but he supposes the shock is in the fact that Josh had allowed anyone else to take notice. "Wow. Impressive."

"Thank you. I suppose you know that Josh is Chief of Staff now?"

"Yeah, but the damned new assistant, Mary or whatever, couldn't get me in to see him today. Unlike you, she doesn't know how important I am to him."

Donna snorts. "Her name is Margaret. And I suppose, if you're nice..." She stands and straightens her slacks. "You can follow me, and I'll get you in to see him."

"Really?" He grins, following her out into the hallway. Time to go surprise his old mentor. "You can do that?"

She squints at him. "I have a certain amount of pull, you could say."

"Well I mean, I guess, as Mrs. Santos' Chief, you probably do a lot of liaising or whatever with the boss man."

She seems amused. "Well, there's that, too."

"Isn't it awkward? Trying to act like equals with a guy you used to get coffee for?"

This appears to irk her. "I never got him coffee. And we don't have to act like equals, because we are equals. It's not awkward at all."

"Alright, whatever you say." He wonders if Josh would say the same thing if you asked him.

They turn the corner into the sunlit main foyer, and he can't seem to help himself giving her the once-over. He'd always found her attractive, of course, but when he was an intern, she seemed unable to see him as anything but a pesky little kid. Not to mention that whole Josh thing, but without him looming her like a guard dog all the time, who knew...

"Hey, do you wanna have lunch with me today?"

She looks back at him with an odd smile. "Sure."

Score.

"Oh, wait. I'm actually having lunch with my fiancé, for the first time in a while, today..." She holds up her left hand to display a nice ring. This was rather unnecessary, as he'd already sought it out.

Oh. "Oh. Okay." No matter. A ladies man such as himself could not be stopped. Plenty of fish in his sea.

She bites her lip. "But you can eat with us, if you like. I'm sure he wouldn't mind."

He raises his eyebrows. "Really? He wouldn't?"

She nods, and for some reason, a look of something like glee spreads across her face. "Oh no. He'll want to, trust me."

Ryan shrugs. "Okay. If you insist."

"I do."

Hmmm. Donna Moss was the head of the East Wing, and engaged. A lot certainly had changed. As Ryan Pierce had never really had much of a verbal filter, he can't seem to stop himself asking, "But wait a minute. Josh hasn't thrown some sort of fit yet?"

She looks over at him. "I'm sorry?"

"A fit. About you getting married. I always thought he kind of tried to control your personal life."

"He did."

"...But he doesn't anymore?"

"Nope."

Okay, now he's confused. Things can't have changed that much. "Well why not?"

Why is it that she looks so damn gleeful? It's maddening. "Well, you see, Ryan, Josh has a fiancé of his own to worry about."

"Josh got engaged?"

"Yupp."

"Someone was crazy enough to want to marry that guy?'

"I know, bizarre, isn't it?"

A lot had changed, evidently. "Well, I guess... I guess everything is working out then, isn't it?"

"I guess so. Hey Margaret."

They've reached the desk of that weird ginger woman who simply didn't understand his connection with her boss. Oh well. Not many did. Josh included.

"Oh, hey Donna."

"Can I go in?"

"Yeah, sure thing. He was in the sit room all night, so he's not in a great mood, but I'm sure he'll be glad to see you."

"Yeah, I know he was. But I have just the thing to cheer him up." Donna turns to gesture at Ryan, a wide grin on her face.

"Who's this?" Margaret asks blankly.

"They call me Mr-"

"This is Ryan Pierce. An old friend."

"Oh. Okay. Well you can go in."

"Thanks."

He follows Donna to the door, smirking at Margaret on his way past. She humphs.

To his surprise, Donna doesn't bother knocking, but strolls right in. Peering around her shoulder, he sees Josh sitting at his desk. Upon looking up at their entrance, his face breaks into a grin.

"Oh thank god you're here. I was about to kill someone."

He rises from his desk and heads toward them. Ryan is about to give a greeting, but the words die in his throat. Josh hasn't even noticed him.

Instead, he goes straight to Donna, and in a chain of events too quick for poor Ryan to process, Josh takes her face in his hands and kisses her. In a manner that very clearly suggests he thinks they're alone.

Alright. Okay. What?

Donna pulls back from him and turns to grin at Ryan, her look of glee now fully-fledged.

Josh, for his part, has now officially noticed him. And his expression could easily be compared to that of someone recently hit on the head.

Donna starts laughing. "Yes, Ryan. Almost forgot you were there. Meet my fiancé."

Ah. Right. Okay. Things were starting to make a little more sense.

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"Donna. You're supposed to warn me about things like this."

She grins. "Oops."

"The kid looks shell-shocked." Reconsidering this, Josh grins. "This actually marks the first time I've seen him like that."

"Impressive, right?"

"Yeah. Usually he can't shut his damn trap for five seconds, and now-"

"Nice to see you too, Josh." Ryan finally regains control of his vocal capabilities. "Good of you to greet me with the warm welcome I deserve after four years away. Anyhow, I wouldn't be so surprised if your fiancé here hadn't set me up."

Josh looks down at Donna, wrapping one arm around her. "Oh yeah?"

She shrugs. "It was easy."

"That's hilarious. I mean, his face-"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm a shmuck. What can I say? Anyhow, about that warm welcome, I have yet to hear a hello..."

Josh grins, finally approaching his former intern. "Ryan Pierce. They let you back in the building?"

"They can't help but recognize that I'll own it one day."

"Oh yeah?"

"I just walk through the doors and yell 'Daddy's home'."

Josh shakes his head, laughing, and extends his hand. "God, can't tell if I've missed ya, you arrogant prick."

"Absence makes the heart grow fonder."

"Well I can tell ya that having you around never did it much good."

"Don't deny your love for me, Josh."

"I think I'll take that one to the grave with me, actually."

Ryan shrugs. "Have it your way."

Donna comes to stand beside Josh, wrapping an arm around his waist. "Today is Ryan's first day as the assistant advisory to something or other of the Legislative Affairs office."

"Otherwise known as Mr. Smooth."

Josh chuckles. "Yeah, not in my house, kid. So what poor soul has to put up with you these days?"

"I report to Chris Carrick."

Josh makes an expression of distaste. Damn that bipartisan hiring policy. "Yeah, alright, that's fair. You two deserve each other."

"I think I'm thawing him."

Josh shakes his head. "I did too, Ryan, I did too..."

"But you lacked my inherent charm."

Donna smiles. "This much is true."

Josh appears offended "Hey, my inherent charm worked on you."

"Mmmm, not sure that that's it."

"You're right, it's probably my good looks."

"Guess again."

"I honestly don't know, then."

"That's funny, neither do I."

"Oh, that's hilarious, I-"

Ryan squints at them - this banter is only too familiar. "So you two finally got it together, huh?"

Josh looks up at him. "What do you mean, finally?"

"Let's just say, I could see it coming a long ways off."

Donna gives him a look. "You, of all people?"

"Everyone could."

Josh shrugs. This is only too familiar. "Yeah, yeah."

Ryan grins. "So. Tell me all about it."

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"So. Tell me all about it."

Donna looks up from her desk with mild irritation. "Tell you all about what?"

Her apprentice of four days winks at her as if they're both in on some secret. "You know what."

Could the guy be any more obnoxious? "Actually, dear Ryan, my ability to read the minds of pretentious interns seems to be faulty this morning, so if you'd care to enlighten me..."

Ryan Pierce's sly grin remains firmly in place. "Oh, Donna." I will smack you, I swear to god I will smack you...

Cocky beyond belief, he lifts himself atop her desk. This was not okay. Only Josh sat on her desk... And Sam, though he was no longer around to do so. But not this guy.

"Oh, Donna." He repeats, shaking his head. "There's no use pretending."

"Pretending what, may I ask?"

"Oh, Donna."

"Pierce, I swear to god, if you don't get your ass off my desk-"

"You're sleeping with the boss man."

She tries very hard to keep her jaw from dropping. "I'm sorry?"

"You and Josh."

"You think we're...?"

"Engaging in a forbidden love affair, yes, there's no use hiding it, doll."

She's feeling her indignation building by the second. "Okay, first, don't ever call me doll. Ever. And second, what could possibly make you think-"

"Donna. I'd be highly surprised if I'm the first to figure it out. But then again, I have always had a keen eye for the subtleties of human interaction."

"...Oh really?"

"I mean, the tension. You two practically finish each others sentences, and every time you bicker, it's like you could break out into a make out session any moment. I'm surprised I live through the intensity of it."

Is her face red? It's feeling a little red. "Your keen eye for the subtleties of human interaction is failing you."

"I doubt it."

"Well, that's on you. We're not-" she lowers her voice, "-sleeping together."

His conspiratorial smirk doesn't waver. "He has a picture of you in his wallet."

She snorts. "He does not."

"He does too. Of the two of you."

"That's ridiculous."

"It's true! I borrowed it to get us all lunch yesterday."

She raises her eyebrows at him. "You stole Josh's wallet yesterday?"

"Borrowed, I - hey, that's not the point! The point is that you're sleeping together!"

"Who's Donna sleeping with?"

Donna's now entirely sure her face is red as she looks up at Josh. "Well-"

"You should know." Ryan smirks.

Josh looks between them with puzzlement. "Enlighten me."

Ryan continues to grin at him in the most annoying way. After a moment, he turns and puts a hand on Donna's shoulder. "Don't worry, doll. Your secret's safe with me."

"Hey, don't... call her that. And get off her desk. Just... Just leave, you're bothering me." Josh crosses his arms.

"Okay. Whatever you say, boss." He hops up, but on his way out, leans down to whisper to Donna, "Your man, come to defend you."

She must refrain from slapping him as he exits the bullpen.

Josh takes the seat on her desk that Ryan has just vacated. "What was that about?"

"Can we fire him?"

"Who are you sleeping with?"

"You."

"I'm sorry... what?" Josh's voice takes to it's upper octave.

"He thinks we're sleeping together."

Realization dawns on his face. He sighs. "Damn, that's the fourth intern so far. What is it with these people?"

"No idea."

He stands, not looking at her. "I'll straighten him out."

"Okay... Hey, can I borrow your wallet?"

He looks at her like she's crazy. "What? No."

"Why not?"

"Just... No." He makes his retreat, looking somehow panicked, and she looks down at her desk with the smallest of smiles.

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"So." Ryan sits back with a smug smile. "Tell me all about it."

Josh looks up absently. "About what?"

Ryan's eyes have lingered on the clasped hands, the intimate smiles. The casual way they shared food, the ritual of swiping bites and smacking hands. The way they were in their own little bubble, even when talking to him. "This."

Donna looks exasperated. "Ryan, as ever, my ability to read the minds of-"

"Your love story, of course."

Josh chokes on his coffee a little, and Donna gives him a look before turning back to Ryan. "I have no idea what you're talking about, gossip girl."

"Well." Ryan considers. "You've gone from acting like you sleep together, to actually sleeping together. There's gotta be something interesting there."

Donna considers this, smiling wryly. "...No such luck."

Josh has recovered, displaying a look of incredulity. "And like I'd ever share details of my personal life with you."

"Not after all we've been through?"

Josh chuckles. "Especially after all we've been through."