A/N- I'm absolutely heartbroken over the loss of RBG. I really debated whether to suspend this story because it feels so trivial given the state of the world. I've decided to go ahead and post but to use this platform to urge everyone to vote and do whatever you can to mobilize others to vote. This is a battle for the soul of our nation.

The second week of September and I'm feeling pretty good. Running for reelection is definitely easier this time around. We've got a much better record and we don't have the albatross of Jed's undisclosed MS hanging around our necks.

Clicking through the photos in my phone, I can't help but humming a happy tune. Some of these candid personal shots from the Labor Day Barbecue would be great for campaigning. Of course, I'll need to check with Helen first, but I don't think she'll mind. I put them in a folder to send to Amy once I have permission.

I stop and stare at one of Carly and Peter with their heads close together, sharing a secret, oblivious to the world around them. Definitely not for the campaign, but it's a beautiful shot.

"Look at your babies." I text before attaching it and sending it to the group chat I started with Becky and Helen. It's much easier to coordinate the logistics of young, secret love this way.

I'm so glad that we got to spend some time all together as a family when Conor moved in. Sean and Matt seem to be on the same page with the kids, that's a big relief. Not that they'll have much time together, but we will be in Wisconsin a few times. It is a battleground state.

Awww, the next picture of Lulu is so cute. She's smirking at the camera, looking so much like Josh it takes my breath away. I send that one to him and Sylvia. Neither of them can ever get enough pictures. I can almost guarantee that within two seconds of opening it, they'll be showing her off to someone.

Okay, what's next?

The speech to the Women's Alliance for Social Justice still needs work. There's a quote I want her to close with- "Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you."

. . . . .

The intercom buzzes and Karen announces- "Josh is on line one."

"Well hello, there, this is a nice surprise."

"Is Helen in the office?" Josh counters my pleasantry in a serious, choked up voice and I find myself standing up in reaction.

"No. It's after 3. She's in the Residence."

"I need you to go get her and bring her to the Oval. Right now."

"Josh? What's going on?"

"I'll tell you when you get here. I need the two of you as soon as possible."

"Josh!"

"It's going to be fine, baby. Just get the First Lady please."

"Okay."

I hang up and immediately walk out the door without gathering anything from my desk or turning my computer off. As I exit my office, Karen looks up at me expectantly, her brow a little furrowed. Maybe she picked up on Josh's tone too.

"I'm going to the Residence, then the Oval. I don't know when I'll return. Have everyone on stand-by."

"What . . ."

"That's all I have for you right now."

Jackie falls in beside me as we head towards the stairs. I'm not running. There's no reason to run. Something's up but I don't know what. I need to be calm. Josh gave me instructions and he'll tell me what to do next.

I find Helen in the East Room reading.

"Donna! Hi!" Helen greets me with a bright smile. This isn't normal. But it's not completely unheard of for me to stop by unexpectedly between 3-6. But her smile quickly turns from happy to puzzled. I must be giving off a vibe.

She gestures to a chair for me to sit, but I remain where I am.

"Is Peter home from school yet?"

"Yes."

"Josh needs us in the Oval Office immediately. I don't know why, and I don't know for how long. Do you need to give Peter instructions?"

While I'm talking Helen looks worried, but when I'm done she stands, smooths her pants and calmly replies. "Yes, let me just tell him I'm going downstairs."

I follow her to Peter's room, but stand out of his vision when she taps lightly and opens the door.

"Peter, honey, I have to run downstairs for a bit. I don't know how long I'll be. Can you make sure Miranda gets a snack when she gets home? And tell her to start her homework by 5."

"Okay, Mom." He answers agreeably.

Then Helen shuts the door and we walk silently to the West Wing with our details following us. I'm pleased with both of us. We are calm, cool, and collected. I don't know what we are about to learn, but I have faith that we can handle it.

As we approach the Oval, I consider what to do. Normally, we'd enter through the Secretary's Office, but something makes me skip the door next to Ronna's desk and go to the double doors that lead to the Oval Office. As the Marine opens it for us and we walk through, I have a strange sense of foreboding. Like our world is about to turn upside down.

Glancing around, I quickly realize that Josh isn't even in the room.

Matt looks up, surprised to see us, but his grin fades as our dour countenance registers. He stands up nervously.

"Helen? What's wrong? The kids?"

She looks from him to me in confusion, but I don't have any answers either.

"Josh said to . . ." I begin trying to articulate a reason for our sudden appearance as I across the room towards his door, but it opens suddenly and he strides through it.

"Sorry. I got hung up on the phone. I meant to beat them down here." He says to Matt by way of explanation. But it explains nothing.

"What's going on?" Matt asks briskly.

"I think we'd better sit down." Josh informs us gesturing toward the sitting area.

Helen takes a spot on a couch and Matt quickly joins her, so I sit across from them. But Josh remains standing.

He runs his left hand through his hair, making it stand up. He needs a haircut again. His right hand clenches and unclenches twice, a sure sign that he's stressed out by what he's about to say.

"Look, I'm sorry to do this this way. I really did mean to be in here before they got down here." He offers looking at Helen and Matt. I'm so confused. Why did he ask us down here if he wanted to talk to Matt alone?

He takes a deep breath. "Mr. President, I just got off the phone with the publisher of the Western States Chronicle. In the morning they are running a story that you've been having a two year affair with a 26 year old woman. They have photographs and receipts. They'd like to know if you'll comment for the record."

"Not again." Helen mutters grabbing Matt's hand even as he bounds up off the couch, pulling her with him.

"It's false! A complete fabrication. I have never cheated on Helen and I never would." He insists hotly, " And Josh, the fact that you would ask. . ."

"Whoa." Josh interrupts. "I had to. You know that. Remember Cleveland? I have to ask. It's my job. You don't have to convince me."

Matt stops short. "Right." He finally breathes out, chest heaving a little as he and Josh stare each other down, taking each other's measurements in the moment, both wanting to know that the other believes them.

"Now, let's sit down and talk." Josh instructs Matt calmly, crossing in front of him and taking a seat next to me.

Matt releases another long breath as Helen sits, tugging him back down. I notice that she hasn't let go of his hand.

"What did you mean, 'not again'?" I ask her gently.

"There were rumors when he was in the Mayor's office. I didn't believe it then and I don't believe it now." Helen vows.

I find myself nodding at her. My gut reaction is that she's right. I believe in her and I believe in Matt. We just went through this ourselves. I think I know exactly how she feels.

"Josh-" Matt starts again, "I need to know that you believe me."

"Absolutely." Josh jumps in. "I don't know where this story is coming from but I know you. You trusted me. And I trust you."

"Damn tabloids." Helen blurts out. " You guys do know what this is like."

"That's the thing though," Josh counters, "the Western States Chronicle isn't a tabloid. This is a well respected newspaper. They wouldn't be publishing if they thought it was libel. They have "confirmation", he makes air quotes with his fingers, "from the woman. They say they have photographs and physical proof."

"They can't have proof! Because it didn't happen!" Matt shouts.

"I know, I know. But I don't know if I can stop them from publishing." Josh is speaking softly, trying to reassure the President. He reminds me so much of Leo right now. Handling the President's righteous indignation but not losing sight of the issue at hand.

Josh pauses for a few beats, and the amount of trouble we are in really starts to settle in. Finally he says, "I think we need to get Ainsley in here."

"Yeah," Matt agrees a little bit miserably. Helen is still gripping his hand in both of hers. It occurs to me then that we really should give them a few minutes to themselves.

"Josh, Why don't we step into your office for a few minutes. We can get Ainsley down here and then we can make a plan." I tilt my head a bit towards Matt and Helen and hope he gets my point without me actually having to say out loud that I think they need some privacy or at least what passes for privacy in this fishbowl.

Josh looks deeply into my eyes, understanding my body language, and I can tell he gets the message when he gives a quick nod and stands up.

"With your permission, Mr. President?" He asks Matt.

"Yes of course."

"Thank you, Mr. President." Josh emphasizes Matt's title twice, reminding them of where they are and the both the power and the duty that comes with the office. Somehow we will get through this.

. . . . . .

As soon as we step through the entry to Josh's office and the door clicks behind us, Josh is pulling me into his arms.

"Oh god, that was horrible." He mumbles into my hair, holding me tightly.

"You did fine."

"I blindsided him in front of his wife! I didn't mean to do that. I was going to give him a heads up first."

"Maybe it was better this way. You got to see both of their reactions at once. You really do believe him, don't you?"

"I do." Josh assures me. "Do you?"

"Yeah, I do. We've been working side by side for four years. Believe me, I know the signs when someone is cheating." Josh's eyes flash in anger the way they do whenever the specter of Dr. Freeride makes its way into our world. But I distract him from that by running a hand down his face. "I don't believe that Matt had an affair."

"Me neither. But this is bad. I'm telling you, Donna, I spent a long time on the phone with this guy. He says his sources are rock solid. I couldn't budge him."

"What are we going to do?"

"I need one more minute of this." He answers, pulling me back closer and keeping me pressed against him. I let him hold me but my mind is racing, trying to get caught up to where Josh probably already is, but it's hard to get past how awful I feel for our friends.

"Okay." Josh finally groans, releasing me from his hold. "First, we really do need to get Ainsley down here. We also need Amy. The Campaign is going to need to get ready."

"Oh my god! The Election!" I can't believe I didn't immediately think of it. I feel stupid. "What's this going to do to his chances?"

Josh looks at me levelly. "This is going to kill him if we can't figure out how to stop it. So let's get to work. You call Ainsley. See if you can get her down here right away without telling her anything. I'll call Amy."