CJ walked to the podium and began her briefing, "Good morning and welcome to the new year."
Calls of "CJ!" quickly filled the room.
"Please, settle down. Let me make a few announcements, and then we'll get to questions. Same as every other day," CJ reminded them. "First, since I know you're dying to ask about it. Yes, I'm pleased to announce that DC's New Year's baby was born last night to Deputy Chief of Staff Joshua Lyman and his wife Donnatella. Mother and daughter are doing fine. They've named her Joan Delores Lyman. Josh has already nicknamed her Jodi."
As she paused for breath, the press corp again launched into it's chorus of "CJ!"
"Paul," she said pointing to the reporter in question.
"The layette from the DC Merchant's Association," he began.
"Donna and Josh wish to thank them, but they will be donating it to one of the battered women's shelters here in town for some child who needs it more than Jodi," she explained then called on the next raised hand. "Yes, Danny."
"How's Josh taking to fatherhood?" he asked with a grin.
"Jodi has her daddy wrapped firmly around her little finger already," CJ confirmed.
Just two weeks later, Josh carried Jodi into the White House with Donna at his side. They were stopped constantly on their way to visit the Oval Office. The President had requested they bring the baby into visit when Donna felt up to it, and today was the day. The weather had warmed enough to melt the rest of the snow off the streets making it warm enough to bring the baby out of the house. They had been stopped yet again beside Margaret's desk so she too could hold the baby when Leo opened the door to his office and stepped out.
"My turn, Margaret. Come to Grandpa Leo, sweetheart," he crooned as he took the baby from his astonished assistant. Josh and Donna didn't even try to hide the smiles on their faces. Leo had been a regular visitor at their home in the past two weeks as had most of their friends, or as regular as stopping in to see the baby at midnight on their way home from work could be. "You bring her in to meet her Grandpa Jed?" he asked with a gentle smirk. Jodi had opened her eyes and was batting unsuccessfully at Leo's nose.
"Yeah," Donna admitted as she watched Leo play with her daughter.
"Ok," Leo said as he handed Jodi back into her mother's arms. "Stop by before you go," he ordered them before pressing a quick kiss to the baby's forehead.
Mary, the President's current assistant, stood to usher them in as they approached the outer office. "Go on in," she told them. "I think he wants an excuse to get out of this meeting."
They were greeted by a relieved commander in chief as they entered the Oval Office. "Josh! Donna!" he said as he rose from his seat. Coming towards them he held out his arms for the baby. "I finally get to meet this granddaughter of mine," he said as he took the baby from Donna's arms. The other guests rose as well.
"Mary," Josh said coolly coming to stand with his arm around Donna. "Al, it's good to see you again," Josh told the reverend. "Thank you for the gift you sent for Jodi."
"It was my pleasure, Josh" Reverend Caldwell told him leaning over to get a better look at the baby in the President's arms. "She's going to be a heartbreaker," he predicted.
"She already is," Donna told him. "She's got all the guys wrapped around her finger."
"You have a beautiful daughter, Josh" Mary Marsh conceded.
"Come on Mary," Al told her. "We can discuss this further at another time, Mr. President."
"Thanks, Al" Bartlet agreed. After the two conservatives had left the room he said, "You've come to my rescue yet again, Josh."
"Always happy to be of service, sir" Josh quipped.
As Jodi began to fret in his arms, the President began to gently sway back and forth soothingly. "It seems only yesterday when Annie was this young," the President mused. Bartlet continued to rock the baby as the White House photographer took a few pictures. He turned his attention back to Josh and said, "We're doing for her, Josh. For our children and our children's children. We're doing this...all the long hours, the struggle, the pain. We're doing it to make a better world for them. The good fight....not a bad thing to fight for. Huh, Joshua?" Bartlet had asked as he'd contentedly rocked the baby in his arms.
"She's definitely worth fighting for, sir" Josh assured him as he watched the leader of the free world hold his daughter.
"How are you feeling, Donna?" the President asked.
"Stronger, sir" Donna answered as she reached forward to trace a finger along her daughter's tiny arm. She felt Josh's arm snake around her waist just before he pulled her to him. "Like I could do anything for her."