With a bang of the gavel the final public G-8 Summit Meeting session came to a triumphant end. President Josiah Bartlet stood to lead the applause marking the closing. His Staff watching from the sidelines joined in. They were nearly jumping up and down at the success Jed Bartlet had achieved. He beamed at them.
Leo whispered to Sam and C.J. "I'm sure there's a huge sigh of relief in the West Wing. Toby and Josh figured without them something major would go wrong."
Sam was heady with the accomplishments of the Summit and spoke freely. "Let's always leave them home. Toby is easier to deal with long distance."
The First Lady moved through the crowd with her detail and Lilly Mays. As always, Lilly looked wary approaching the President's Staff. But even Lilly smiled when Abbey slipped an arm around Leo's waist and asked, "Would a huge yell, something akin to 'Yahoo' be considered inappropriate?"
"Not if you whisper it to us."
Abbey Bartlet used a stage whisper for her war whoop. Everyone laughed. She announced,"You've all done a great job. We really appreciate it. Here are your orders. Go have fun. Nothing official is on tap. Go see the sights, shop, party. Leave your Briefing Books and computers locked securely away."
"Is that a Presidential order?", C.J. wondered.
"No, it is a First Lady's order." Abbey stated firmly.
"Obviously more powerful.", Sam announced, confident for once he'd picked the right side in the battle of the sexes. "Well, Ma'am thank you."
"Get going." Abbey dismissed them. But she knew C.J., Leo and Sam would double check with the President before taking off. That was the case and Jed Bartlet wisely concurred with his wife's order. Senior Staff passed the same message to their assistants and C.J. called a full lid for the Press Corps.
Sam was the first to head out, Billy Kenworthy with him. They were going shopping. C.J. looked after them with concern recalling the last time they were on the town, Sam had ended up involved with a call girl. C.J. felt better about this field trip since Mallory had entranced Sam and Billy was smitten with Donna. C.J. let out a sigh of relief when she saw Billy and Sam take Charlie in tow. He obviously needed a gift for Zoey. They would be on their best behavior now.
Leo sent Margaret off with a group heading to the Opera. He looked uncomfortable without work to do. He needed a lifeline and it came from the British Prime Minister's top aide. He approached Leo to invite him out to dinner with some others who loved military history. Leo's eyes lit up.
That left C.J. to catch Danny's eye. They moved off to the side to have a private moment. "Ready to go?"
"Let me change." She was wearing an apricot dress with a jacket over it. It was the outfit she'd worn the night of The State Of The Union Address, the first night they kissed.
"You look nice. I love that dress on you. Let's not waste time."
C.J. hesitated and decided to be honest. "I wanted to change my shoes." She wore high heels.
"I see. It's not a big deal C.J., not necessary for me. You should stand tall, your height is part of your beauty, part of you."
"Are you really this wonderful?", she asked with a catch in her voice.
"Nope, I'm just still on my best behavior to lure you into my web."
"It's working." She paused and glanced around. "How do we get out of here without attracting attention?"
"Drop your stuff off in your room and then grab a cab. Here's the address and cab fare. Let the driver keep the change." Danny gave her hand a quick squeeze and moved away.
"I feel like I'm part of a novel. But is it a spy one or a romantic one?", C.J. wondered to herself.
***********
The cab took her to a quiet, quaint neighborhood away from the tourist districts. Danny waited outside an old stone building on a cobblestone street. He helped her out of the cab and waved off the driver.
They went inside to a lovely bistro, half filled with diners and dancers. The supper club featured music from a group playing Big Band, Swing and romantic classics. C.J. was charmed and said so. "How did you find out about this?"
"Well, I am a reporter." He laughed at her dirty look. "Heard about it last time I was here. Came to check it out and thought we'd like it."
They did like it, from the meal to the music. The couple danced and laughed a lot. It was a great way to decompress from the hectic pace of the successful Summit. As the evening went on they became more aware they were drawing closer to each other in every dance.
Back at the table over coffee, C.J. mentioned their layover trip to London. The President would spend time at Lord John Marbury's manor and then deliver a lecture at his alma mater, The London School of Economics.
C.J. was hopeful she and Danny could find some time like this. It was nice to create and exist in their own world. When she mentioned it, Danny's face clouded and his grip on her hand tightened. "We need to talk about that. I'm not staying in London. When we land, I'll hop on the Concorde for a meeting in New York. It's about the book on the First Lady."
There was disappointment on C.J.'s face but she worked to conceal it. "Congratulations on the book. I know it'll be another great read."
"Thanks, can't miss with the First Lady as the subject. I hope it'll be a triumph for the Bartlet Administration."
"Sounds like it should be. Did Mrs. Bartlet give you a free hand?"
"Yes. But of course her Chief Of Staff will be part of the contract meeting to make sure everything is in Mrs. Bartlet's best interest."
"You mean Lilly Mays?"
"Yeah. We're flying back together."
"How nice." There was frost in C.J.'s voice and Danny felt the chill.
"Okay, spill it. And thaw out your tone."
"Nothing to spill and there's nothing wrong with my tone. I didn't realize you and Lilly were so close." C.J. hated herself for feeling and sounding jealous. But damn it, she was.
"We're not close. She represents the First Lady at this stage. I barely know Lilly."
"No thanks to her." C.J. answered him in a haughty tone.
The light dawned for Danny. "Oh, I got it now."
"You get what?"
"I see a lovely shade of green on your face. And I see someone told you she hit on me a couple of times."
"It's true?"
"Of course it's true. I told you I'm a good looking guy, a great conversationalist, a nice catch. Of course, Lilly's interested, who wouldn't be? But I wasn't interested in her." Danny wanted to laugh but at the expression of vulnerability on C.J.'s face, he held it in.
"When was this? Never mind. I don't care.", she was trying to be logical and it failed.
"But you do care and that makes me happy." Danny pulled C.J.'s hand to his mouth and kissed it. "Really happy, sort of smug actually." Before C.J. could slap him with that same hand, he said, "She made her intentions known once during the campaign and right after you guys took Office."
"You weren't attracted to her?"
"Can't say I was. She's bright, attractive, dedicated and great at her job. But there's something missing. I can't put my finger on it. Lilly has no warmth, her heart doesn't shine through. There's a brittle quality there." He shrugged.
"She sounds like me from your description.", C.J. said quietly.
Danny tipped her face towards him. "Maybe at first glance. But that's it. Spend any time with you and you find an incredibly warm, compassionate and sexy woman. One you can't turn away from, at least I couldn't."
"I'm glad you didn't fall under her spell Danny. I'd be the loser." She moved her hand to caress his face.
"You wouldn't be the only one to lose. Let's get back to dancing and romancing." He took C.J.'s hand and led her back on the dance floor. As they danced, Danny told her, "In the interests of full disclosure, it was before I realized I had a crush on you. After that, no other woman stood a chance."
C.J. dropped her head to his shoulder and murmured, "You really are scrumptious."
A delighted Danny said, "Am I?"
"That was the conclusion of one of my sister G-8 Press Secretaries. She confided that the other day. If she only knew how true it was."
"Want to become my press agent?"
"I don't think so. I want to keep your light under a bushel, keep you all to myself." C.J. moved closer to Danny and they let the music become the conversation.
**********
Just before midnight a cab pulled up to a Brussels park with a fountain. Water sprayed out of the mouths of fish and then it rippled in the light of the fountain's base. Danny and C.J. climbed out of the cab. He asked the driver to wait. They circled the fountain that C.J. had first discovered in Danny's postcard.
It had reminded her that she was on Danny's mind while he was away. It forced C.J. to face the fact that Danny was on her mind. They had come a long way since that first postcard.
Danny came up behind C.J. to encircle her with his arms. He loved the scent of her and the soft skin of her neck; he nuzzled it gently and said, "Okay, we're here. Happy?"
"Incredibly. I can't remember when I've been this content, this at peace. Thank you, Darling." The endearment slipped out and surprised them both.
"Only one thing left to do." Danny said.
"We can't go wading, it's too cold."
"That wasn't what I meant, though I like the image. Something you've always wanted to try?"
"I've done it before." His surprised look made her sorry for the admission. "Remind me to tell the First Lady NOT to tell you about it."
"More of your mysteries to uncover. Why don't you tell me?" He sweetened the request by changing over from snuggling against her neck to scattering kisses from her ear down her jaw line.
"Not now. I have to keep some things a secret to keep you interested. What was your thing we had to do?"
"Make a wish. Toss a coin in the fountain."
Her eyes sparkled at the notion. "You're right. It's the perfect ending to our romantic evening."
"Almost.", he said ruefully. "The perfect ending would be for me to take you back to the hotel and we make love until sunrise."
"Fair point. But we can't. Let's not spoil what we have."
"Agreed." Danny dug into his pockets and handed her two coins: a U.S. quarter and a 50-EuroCent. C.J. was ready to toss them into the water. Danny stopped her. "C.J. don't you know anything? You're doing this all wrong."
"There's a right way and a wrong way to do this?"
"Absolutely. Here." Danny turned her around so her back was to the fountain. "Now, close your eyes, toss the coin over your shoulder and make your wish." She started to raise her arm. He cautioned, "But make you wish silently."
"I know that much.", C.J. replied. "If you tell a wish, it won't come true." She closed her eyes and arced the coin over her shoulder into the fountain. "Your turn, Danny."
He mirrored her movements. "Back to you."
"Why two coins?"
"We'll wish bilingually. Can't hurt."
"Two different wishes or the same one?"
"Lady's choice."
"Okay." C.J. closed her eyes, scrunched up her face and tossed the coin back. She bit her lip as it plopped into the water, a small smile on her face.
Danny made his second toss and turned to C.J. "Ready to leave?"
"In a minute." She draped her arms around his neck and kissed him. He responded but she was the one who deepened the kiss. Then she pulled away knowing like Cinderella, time was working against them. "Thank you for a lovely evening. We have to get back."
They moved toward the waiting cab arm in arm. C.J. wondered wistfully, "Do you really believe wishes from fountains come true?"
"I know mine did from when I stopped here last time."
"Danny, what did you wish for?"
"I'll give you a hint. We're standing here together tonight and it's not an official photo op."
That made them laugh and C.J. said, "I think you've brought magic back into my life. Got anything else in mind?"
"Plenty C.J." They paused at the cab to look back at the fountain and they left with their wishes fresh in their hearts. They were willing to keep believing in magic.
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