A/N: Here's a new story! This is going to jump in time a bit, as I explore how Josh and Donna came up with the names for their kids, and also important milestones in their family along the way. This will be a multi-chapter fic, please read and review!

Chapter 1: I'm Pregnant (December 2007/January 2008)

There was a certain excitement percolating in the air of the White House as the calendar flipped from 2007 to 2008, although not all of it was holiday-related. The first year of the Santos Administration was drawing to a close, and already there had been affirmative action towards the idea that Matthew Santos' presidency would be one to remember. But two of the Senior Staff members had news that would add a whole new layer of excitement to the already-excited atmosphere.

Donna and Josh pulled up to the East Wing a few days before New Years Eve 2007. They got out of the towncar and walked to the Portico, as they had done nearly every day during their six-month marriage.

"Are you gonna tell her today?" Josh muttered to Donna, reminding her of the sweet little secret they had held between them the past few days.

Donna smiled. "Probably. I was thinking that I would just drop the pictures on her desk and see how long it takes her to figure it out."

"That's a cute idea." Josh said. "Call me later and let me know how it goes?"

"I will." Donna said. "I love you."

"Love you, too." Josh said with a grin. "Both of you."

They kissed and headed off into their separate directions. They would be together for Senior Staff in a while, but Donna liked to do her own staff meeting first, so that her office had a plan for how they would tackle that day, that week, and whatever came up in between.

As she entered the office, Ryan looked up. "Good morning, Donna."

"Morning, Ryan." Donna said cheerfully. "Did I miss anything while I was gone?"

"No, it was Christmas, what were you going to miss?"

"Fair enough." Donna headed into her office and found the speeches she wanted Helen to sign off on. In the next couple of weeks, she had a couple of major speaking engagements that could point them in the right direction to have momentum for the State of the Union. Smiling, she slid her early ultrasound photos from the previous afternoon on top of the pile. They had gone to the doctor to confirm the pregnancy Donna had first become aware of shortly before they had gone to Madison for Christmas.

She knocked lightly on the dividing door between the two offices. Helen was just beginning to get situated at her desk.

Helen looked up and smiled. "How was your trip?"

"It was nice." Donna replied. "It was great to see my parents, but I'm glad to be back in DC, especially now that we're gearing up for these events."

"Well, I'm glad to have you back." Helen said. "I was starting to get overwhelmed with all this State of the Union stuff, and it's not even for a month!"

"Well, hopefully, we can divide and conquer so it's not as overwhelming. In the meantime, these speeches are coming up, so you may want to look them over." Donna put the papers on her desk, then noticed Helen's worried expression.

"Hey, it's going to be OK. You will come out of this." Donna said, flipping into supportive friend mode for a moment.

"Thanks, Donna." Helen grinned. "I needed that."

Donna smiled at her, before heading back into her office.

Suddenly, she heard Helen call from her office, "Hey, Donna, what's this? This looks like-OH MY GOODNESS!"

Donna couldn't keep the grin from spreading on her face as Helen recognized what she was seeing.

Helen appeared at the dividing door, Donna's ultrasound photos clutched in hand, a smile on her face.

"Are you serious? Is this for real?"

"8 weeks." Donna said, grinning.

Helen squealed, before scurrying behind Donna's desk to envelop her in a warm hug. "Congratulations, this is so exciting! Tell me everything. How far along are you? When are you due? How long have you known? Does Josh know? How are you feeling?" Helen was talking so fast that Donna had to try hard not to laugh.

"Well, I'm 8 weeks along, due on or around July 26th, I've known since right before we left for Madison, so a few days; yes, Josh knows, I told him Christmas Eve; and I've been feeling OK, except for a little bit of morning sickness."

"You told him Christmas Eve? How romantic!" Helen gushed.

Donna smiled, thinking back to a couple of days earlier.

…

She had been feeling sick the previous week, but had chalked it up to stress. It wasn't until she looked at her calendar at home and realized she was over a week late that she began to entertain the possibility that she might be pregnant. After all, she and Josh had only been trying for a couple of months. Could it have really happened this fast?

Three positive pregnancy tests later, her suspicion was all but confirmed. Since they had only had a couple of hours before they left for Madison to spend Christmas with Donna's parents, she slipped out to Babies R Us and bought a small onesie that said "Baby's First Christmas". Stashing it carefully in a gift bag in her luggage, they headed to Madison. The next day, after losing her breakfast not only in front of Josh but in front of her mother, she realized it was only a matter of time before her secret would be found out. After she and Josh went to the guest bedroom where they were staying to get ready for the day, she pulled out the gift bag.

"What's this?" Josh had asked.

"Just an early Christmas present." Donna replied.

Josh sat on the bed and pulled out the tissue paper. As he got to what was inside, he pulled it out and read the front of it.

Donna could see the moment it hit him. He drew in a breath and his eyes shot up to meet Donna's, who were now filling with tears. His expression was a mixture of shock, awe, disbelief, and pure joy.

"Are-are you sure?" Josh said, standing up and dropping the gift bag on the bed.

"As sure as three pregnancy tests and throwing up almost every time I eat can make me."

"Oh my God, this is...We're having a baby?" Josh said, striding towards her and clasping her hands. Donna could see tears brimming in his own eyes.

"We're having a baby." she confirmed, grinning widely.

"Oh, Donna!" he said, kissing her deeply and sweeping her up in his arms.

"Josh!" she laughed.

"You should lay down. Are you feeling OK?" Josh asked, settling her down on the bed.

"Josh, I'm alright." Donna lightly protested, but still smiling.

"You didn't tell me you've been sick." Josh said in a concerned voice. "I would've taken care of you."

"I didn't want you to worry. Not until I was sure." She paused. "You're happy about this?"

"I couldn't be happier." Josh assured her, kissing her forehead. "It's the happiest news I've gotten since the day you said you would marry me. I love you so much."

"I love you, too. And you're going to be an amazing dad."

"How do you know?"

"Because if you love this baby half as much as you love me, then he or she is going to know they're loved, and that's enough for me." Donna replied sweetly, leaning forward and kissing Josh, who embraced her.

…

"That is so sweet." Helen said. "Have you told anyone else?"

"My parents basically figured it out the next day when they saw how overprotective Josh was being. My mom probably had her ideas, but we didn't confirm it until then. Once we had the ultrasound last night, we called his mom."

"And how did she react?"

"She was beyond thrilled. I think she'd actually given up hope of ever having grandchildren."

"Well, I am so happy for you both." Helen said sincerely, embracing Donna again.

Just then, Annabeth walked in. "Excuse me, ma'am. I just wanted to make sure we were good on the press junket for the luncheon on Friday-I'm sorry, am I interrupting something?" she asked quizzically, looking from one woman to the other. Helen was still beaming uncontrollably, and Donna had a small smile on her face as she clutched the ultrasound pictures between her fingers.

"You should tell her, Donna." Helen said knowingly. "You know you're not going to be able to keep this a secret for long."

"Tell me what?" Annabeth said. "Donna, is everything all right?

"Everything's fine." Donna assured her. "Couldn't be better, in fact." She handed Annabeth the ultrasound pictures.

"Wait, what are these?" Annabeth peered at the pictures curiously. Then, suddenly, it hit her what she was seeing. "No way."

"Yeah."

"You're pregnant?" she asked excitedly.

"Two months."

Annabeth shrieked as only an excited friend could, and rushed forward to hug Donna. "Oh, my God, congratulations! I'm so happy for you!"

"Thanks." Donna said.

"So, two months, that would put your due date at the end of July, right?"

"July 26th."

"That is so exciting! Who else knows?"

"Well, there's Josh, of course, and our parents, and now you and the First Lady. I think Josh might be telling the President today too."

Across the White House, in the West Wing, Matt Santos was having a similar reaction to his Chief of Staff's life-changing news.

"You're serious?"

"End of July, sir."

"Josh, congratulations!" Matt said, coming around from his desk to hug Josh. "This is fantastic news! When are you going to tell the staff?"

"Well, we were going to wait, but.." Josh thought about it for a second. He knew the odds were good that Donna had already told the First Lady and probably Annabeth too. "May as well tell them now."

"Smart move."

Just then, Margaret poked her head in from the dividing door in the Oval. "Excuse me, Mr. President. Josh, you have Senior Staff in five, and Donna's on her way over."

"Is Donna all right?" Josh said.

"Seemed so. Just told me to tell you that she was coming up for Senior Staff like she always does, with Annabeth and Carolina."

"Got it." he said.

About five minutes later, Senior Staff piled into Josh's office. Lou and Bram were bickering about something, but when were they not? Edie had her head in her notes, and Donna and her staff were coming in behind Edie.

After Josh called the meeting to order, and everyone had given their briefings on what the day ahead held, he said, "I have one last item on the agenda, on a personal note." He made eye contact with Donna, and she nodded, assuring him that she was OK with him sharing the news.

"Donna and I are expecting."

There was a beat of silence, then a chorus of "What?" and "Congratulations, you guys!" and hugs all around.

…

A few weeks later, Donna was arriving for the day when, like many other days, she bolted for the bathroom as soon as she got into her office. She usually got there early enough that there was no one else in the office besides Ryan, who always made sure to arrive before his boss. On this particular morning, Ryan thought he should check on her; he had noticed worriedly that the morning sickness was hitting her harder than she led them to believe.

He walked into her office and rapped on the bathroom door. "Donna? It's Ryan, are you all right?"

"I'll be out in a minute." Ryan was doubly concerned; that didn't sound like her at all. He pushed open the door to find Donna leaning against the bathroom wall, nearly as pale as the white wall of the bathroom.

"Donna, how long have you been like this?"

"I don't know, an hour, maybe."

"Okay, you're seeing a doctor. Carolina!" Ryan called out.

"Ryan, I'll be OK, I just need a few minutes." Donna tried to feebly protest, before yet another round of nausea overtook her.

"Ryan?" Carolina, Donna's deputy COS and his girlfriend walked in. "Is everything all right?"

"Carolina, call the White House Medical Office and tell them to send someone up as soon as they can, then go down to the Mess and get Gatorade, saltines, broth, anything light that you think she can keep down. And send Annabeth in here."

"You got it." Carolina turned to head downstairs, then turned. "Do you want me to call-"

"I'll call him myself." Ryan said. He turned his attention back to Donna, who had leaned back against the wall, looking sicker than she had before.

"Do you feel OK to stand up?" She nodded weakly, so Ryan helped her off the floor, holding her arms to steady her as she slowly walked into her office and dropped down onto the couch. Just then, Annabeth walked in. She took one look to assess the situation and could guess what was happening.

"Morning sickness?"

"If this is morning sickness, it's not like anything I've ever seen. Listen, do you think you can go up to the Residence and let the First Lady know that Donna's going to be out of commission for the rest of the morning?"

"You bet. You call Josh?"

"I'm about to."

Josh had been working in his office before Senior Staff when Margaret knocked on his door. He looked up.

"Yeah, Margaret, what is it?"

"Now, don't panic."

"Margaret, nothing good ever comes after 'Don't panic.' What's going on?"

"The morning sickness is really hitting Donna hard."

"Yeah, that's nothing new." Josh admitted. He had gone into the bathroom to soothe her during her bouts of nausea more times than he could count.

"Well, Ryan's calling the White House doctor to come look at her. He said that he found her in the bathroom, a 'stone's throw away from passing out.'"

That was all Josh needed to hear and he was off and running. He heard Margaret call after him, but he didn't care. Thoughts were running through his head like a freight train: Was she OK? Why didn't she tell him she was sick to the point of almost passing out?

He entered the East Wing almost colliding with Carolina, who was carrying a tray of food.

"What's all that?"

"Ryan said to get anything that I thought Donna might be able to keep down."

Ryan appeared in Donna's office doorway. "I'm glad you're here." he said to Josh. "The First Lady and the doctor are with her now."

Both Josh and Carolina entered Donna's office to find the doctor leaning over Donna's stomach, listening to the heartbeat. Helen was sitting on the desk nearby, looking worried. Carolina walked over to the desk and put down the tray.

"How are you feeling?" Josh asked softly, kneeling by Donna's head and taking the hand she reached out to him.

"I've been better." Donna answered honestly.

"I was really worried about her." Ryan spoke up from the doorway.

"How long have you been getting sick like this?" Josh wanted to know. "And answer me honestly."

"It's only really started getting really bad the last couple of days. I've barely been able to keep anything down without at least part of it coming back up."

"Days?" Josh and Helen both said.

"I know it sounds bad, but I'm not to the point of dehydration."

"But you could be." the doctor warned, putting on her stethoscope. "I don't see any immediate problems, but you need to take it easy. Maybe take smaller meals, and if it doesn't get better, I suggest seeing your OB so she can maybe put you on an anti-nausea medication."

The doctor stood up and said. "But I wouldn't worry too much. It's actually not that uncommon with multiples to have amplified symptoms."

Josh breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, doctor." Suddenly, he and Donna both did a double take.

"Did you say multiples?"

"Yeah, I heard two heartbeats. You knew it was twins, right?"

Josh and Donna stared at her in shock.

"Are-are you sure?" Donna asked.

The doctor nodded.

"Josh, we're having twins!" Donna said to him in disbelief.

Josh couldn't believe it either. At least they had seven months to get used to the idea.

…

"You know," Donna said later that day. "Now that we know we're having twins, we actually have no excuse to not start coming up with names. In fact, it's even more important now."

"Really?" Josh asked. They were sitting on the couch at their apartment, and Donna had been feeling better after the morning's events. Helen and Matt had both ordered the couple to take the day off, and Donna's nausea had dwindled down throughout the day. She had taken the doctor's advice to eat in smaller amounts, and that seemed to be working.

"Yeah, as long as we don't have anything to do." Donna replied, grinning. "Why don't you get that name book from our room, and we can start going through it?"

Josh nodded, then came back with the book-and something else.

"What's that?" Donna asked as he handed her the book.

"When I found you were pregnant," Josh said, "I was so excited that I immediately started thinking of names in my head. I realized that our kids should be named after people we admire, people we know and respect."

"That's a good idea." Donna said thoughtfully. She looked at the piece of paper in his hand. "Did you come up with a few names already?"

"I did." Josh said, handing it to her. "I know it won't only apply if we have boys, but I thought of the boys' names first."

Donna smiled softly as she read the list, drawing a finger under each name as she read it aloud.

"Noah, Leo, Matthew, Josiah, Daniel." As she read the last name, her voice caught. "Josh, these are beautiful names. I know any of these guys would be honored to share their name with our kids."

"You think?" Josh said, smiling.

"Yeah." she nodded. She kissed him. "That is so sweet. But what about girls' names?"

"Oh, brother."

"Josh! What if they're girls?"

"They could be one of each."

"But then we'd still have to pick at least one girls' name." Donna reached across for the book. "Everyone starts with the A's, so let's start at the back. Zoe?"

"Much as I love the idea of naming our child after Zoey Bartlet, it's not exactly jumping out at me."

"Zara."

"Pass."

"Yolanda."

"Pass. You really don't want our kid to like you, do you?"

Donna rolled her eyes good-naturedly. This was going to be a long seven months.