Thanksgiving approached quickly, a frantic yet enjoyable week of shopping, afternoon's catching up and late night movies had entertained the extended Lyman family. Josh had navigated a national crisis in Brazil, with unrest in Rio killing two CIA agents. Minus a few extra gray hairs reputations had gone unscathed.

Georgie had insisted on having Drew for a belated birthday sleepover since both had been benched from school till after Christmas. Donna had squeezed in an appointment at Dr Fraser's office discovering she'd past the twelve week mark with little more than a slightly rounded belly. Josh enjoyed coming home to find her in bed having fallen asleep waiting for him. Five nights in a row they'd made slow love as Donna began the second trimester in earnest.

Iris had gone back to Chicago with Liss to help with the kids and Josh had chased Julia away till Christmas at least. They'd broken the news of a new brother or sister to Georgie who had immediately demanded to go out and buy a toy bunny to carry round till the real "bunny" arrived. As courtesy Josh had informed Matt and sworn him to complete secrecy.

Managing to take a day and a half off Josh had spent the afternoon before thanksgiving helping Georgie to pack her suitcase. With bunny in tow the family had made an uneventful trip up to the Bartlet family farm together.

Greeted by many from the old administration Josh and Donna had happily introduced Georgie to everyone and despite a moment of shy hiding Georgie had made firm friends with Ellie's daughter, Rosie, who followed her round in awe. Congratulations had whipped round the room upon news of the latest addition to the family making an appearance in early May time. Josh also managed to embarrass Donna by dropping onto one knee right after Thanksgiving dinner to present his grandmother's ring. A resounding yes and "finally" gave rise to a cider and for Donna's sake apple juice filled night.

"It's amazing," curled in Josh's arms Donna stretched her ring finger as long as it would go.

"It's a Lyman heirloom" Josh noted, kissing Donna's blonde tresses.

"Well it's beautiful just like the fiancé" causing Josh to blush and give her a boyish grin Donna snuggled in close. They'd gone for a midnight walk round the farm's perimeter, ahead Sam and Toby were locked in arguments over new policy and Abbey was helping a crippling Jed to navigate the un-even ground.

"I'm glad you came back, y'know." Donna nodded, often backwards with his emotions and display of affection on Josh's part was monumental.

"And I'm gonna get over the squeamish thing too." The both laughed simultaneously.

"Good cuz' I'll need you locked in there, blood, spew and poop galore," Josh gripped Donna closer still to let his answer be known.

"What you thinking about asking Helen and Matt to be Godparents?" He'd been mulling the point for a few weeks.

"I hadn't thought about it but it's an ace idea. They're such good parents and Georgie's practically best friends with Randy now"

"We'll ask them at the Congressional Dinner you're being dragged too." Slowly climbing the porch stairs Josh secretly couldn't wait to see Donna dress up again, it had been several months since the hospital benefit and with the baby bump only growing now he knew she'd be unable to keep it secret much past Christmas.

They stopped off to say good night to Toby and Sam who weren't going to bed anytime soon, they quickly readied for bed in the cooling night air. Snuggled tight on a twin bed Josh had taken great pleasure in giving Donna a well earned back rub. The day had proved busy with Georgie demanding to take a ride on Zoey's horse under strict instruction from Jed who watched with careful interest. She'd proven a natural talent, taking to riding much like she would anything, with aplomb. Josh had exercised his strategic mind with the old school, forming a pact with Toby to take him on board for the re-elect campaign and they'd battled a heated debate as to who would take the ticket four years from now. Sam had jibed at Andi taking VP under Santos to which Toby had replied "Hi I'm Toby Ziegler I'm second lady of America. I think not friend" Josh had gone as far as suggesting he could use an old suit of his mother's for the inaugural and chaos had ensued until Abbey brought news of dinner being ready. Catching up with their day's bustling activity the family had sat squished between CJ and Sam, old tales of practical jokes and unfortunate fire's spreading with cider to lubricate affairs.

Light snoring from a content Donna had provided his lullaby, sleep coming quickly as he descended into memories of their early days together. Acting as mother figure he'd always be grateful for her walking him through the terse first years in office. Mockery had played as catalyst to their relationship with his own insecurities being hidden by Dr Freeride jokes. "I wouldn't stop for red-lights." She was rock in the stormy aftermath of Roslyn immediately noticing his distress and lack of control. "If you will put your hand through glass then you will sit in the ER for fourteen hundred hours." She waited with him though, keeping him entertained with campaign stories and her first thoughts on him "an overgrown boy with all the grace of an elephant off Ritalin" He saw her in the black dress she'd worn to the second Inaugural, their pathetic good cop bad cop routine. "Keep your voice down" he'd been more angered by her worrying over someone else, like she always had done. His mind moved on to her hour of need, he'd never felt so sick as he had on the plane to Germany. He could hear her voice in his head for the whole journey. "I'm sorry boss" she'd always followed the phrase boss with a heat-stopping smile and shrug of her shoulders. He loved the challenge she provided on the campaign. "As a short order cook I'm still waiting for the spatula" he made his mind up then he wasn't going to let her go. He slammed the door to his hotel room so hard it shook when he found the letter, crumpling up the words of apology and regret I want to go now before it gets ugly. Ugly was all he could muster for months after, snapping at the President and barking orders at every meeting. Seeing her sunken face when she came back felt like a smack high, seeing his daughter had given his mettle a good whacking but managing to support his family in both time and money had given him the biggest heart swell to date. Winning a campaign had been a massive ego boost but seeing a tiny grainy image wriggle on the monitor, holding Donna's hand and regaling the story to his daughter had provided more satisfaction than work could ever give him.

"You're heart's racing Josh." Donna murmured half asleep.

"S'ok, go back to sleep." Finally his memories had given way to dreams of their future, Matt's suggestion of running for office somewhere lying awkward in his grand-scheme of things. All he could see before him was the birth of a beautiful son, with chubby cheeks and a content smile that would entertain mommy and daddy for hours. Secretly he was hoping he'd master caring for a baby, be able to change a diaper and hold a tiny infant the correct way. He couldn't see the bright lights and instant fame of running for anything fill his family's lives.

Feeling a small person creep into the bed at 2 am claiming she couldn't sleep he'd helped his little girl under the covers and kissed her forehead.

Two hours later a knock on the door to their bedroom had woken all three up. "Mr Lyman sir, there's a situation in Brazil that requires you be at the White house; we've got a helicopter waiting, you need to go now."

"Ok, ok, rummaging for clothes he pulled a mismatched ensemble on, giving Donna a reassuring hug and tucking Georgie in extra tight he'd excused himself from the house, following two secret service agents toward the noisy copter in the field near the horses and off into the brisk late-November night.