"What do you mean the press is at every exit?"
Josh pulled his t-shirt over his head and looked at her with that this-is-not-fault expression. "Apparently the press thinks we're having an affair."
Donna was looking for the zipper on the side of the dress; she froze and looked up at Josh. "Strip!"
Josh smirked. "What?"
"Strip!" she ordered again.
"I can't, we have to be in Leo's office in twenty minutes."
"If I'm going to be accused of having an affair," she approached Josh reaching for the hem of his shirt, "I'm going to by god be wreaking the benefits of one."
Josh grabbed her wrists and pulled her against him. "While I applaud the thought, Leo's waiting and I don't want our first time to be with the press twenty feet from the building thinking that we're doing what we would be doing."
"They ruined our moment. In fact our moments keep on getting ruined." She buried her face in the crook of his neck.
He stroked her hair lightly and inhaled deeply. He loved her scent, she smelled like lilacs and vanilla with an underlying musk that was all woman. "I know this sucks, but I promise I'll make up for all the ruined moments."
"Really?"
"Truly." He nipped playfully at her ear.
She giggled and pulled back to look at him. "How are we getting out of here?"
He had an evil grin on his face. "I'm glad you asked."
"Hi, Margaret." Donna stood in front of her friend's desk.
"Is it true?"
Donna smiled at the red head. She was the queen gossip in the White House among other things. "Is what true?"
"Are you and Josh having an..."
"Good morning, Margaret." Josh strutted in.
"Hi, Josh." Margaret eyed them carefully and then nodded. "You can go in."
Josh reached for Donna's hand and pulled her behind him. They tentatively stood in front of Leo who was reading a document.
"Leo?"
"We're waiting for someone," he said simply without moving his eyes off the paper.
"Good morning." Jed Bartlett strolled through the connecting doors between the Chief of Staff's office and the Oval Office.
Donna tensed up next Josh, he squeezed her hand to reassure her that he was there with her and that everything was going to be okay.
"Good morning, Mr. President," they said together.
"Good morning, sir." Leo stood up at the President's appearance.
"I was told there is a situation of some kind." President Bartlett looked from Donna and Josh to Leo.
Leo nodded seriously. "C.J. called me this morning. Danny has a quote from an unnamed source that Josh and Donna are having an affair."
"Interesting. Any pictures taken?"
Leo glanced over at Josh. "Just the ones leaving my apartment this morning," Josh replied.
"Donna was at your apartment this morning at five-thirty?" Bartlett asked.
"Yes, sir."
"What business could you possibly be conducting five-thirty in the morning on a Saturday?"
"She wasn't there on business, sir."
"It's all my fault. See I had dinner with Commander Reece last night and he proposed to me and then he took it back because he said that I was in love with Josh and well I got a little drunk last night and I couldn't remember where I lived or where my keys were so I just went over to Josh's I wanted to talk to him about what had happened anyway and well sir we woke up and Leo called and here we are. Mr. President we're not having an affair."
"At least not yet," Josh muttered.
"I'm sorry, Josh, did you say something? I didn't quite hear you."
Josh looked at the President. "I said, at least not yet, Mr. President."
"Are you saying that you're planning on having an affair with Donna?" Josh noticed the smirk play across his face.
"No, sir, not an affair. See this morning I told Donna that I love her and I do very much and I fully intend to do something about it, that is if she loves me back. I understand how it looks from a PR point of view and if you want me to resign I would be happy to, but don't punish Donna."
"Donna?" The President looked over at the stunned young woman in front of him.
"Yes, sir?" Her voice was heavy with emotion.
"How do you feel?"
"About which part, sir?"
"What Josh just said."
"First of all if Josh resigns, I resign and second of all I love him too and would love for him to do something about it...finally."
Bartlett couldn't help but laugh. "I'm afraid we all agree with you, Donna. Finally!"
"What happens now?" Josh asked.
"I definitely hate to say it like this, but there needs to be some damage control." Leo looked behind Josh and Donna.
"That's what I'm here for."
Josh and Donna both turned around to see C.J. and Toby standing directly behind them.
After talking Josh and Donna through the next forty-eight hours of their life C.J. meandered back to her office where Danny was sitting on her couch. C.J. sat down next to him on the couch.
"How'd it go?"
"A lot better than I thought. Apparently right before Leo called Josh told Donna he loved her and she reciprocated his feelings right there in Leo's office." C.J. leaned towards Danny just a little. "Thanks for leaking the story for me."
"I can't believe it took those fools so long to realize that if you're in love you should just really do something about it and not drive..."
C.J. cut him off by pressing her lips to his. She pulled back eventually and looked at him for a reaction. "...Everyone crazy with all the sexual tension," he finished.
"Danny?"
"Yeah?"
"I just kissed you."
"I noticed that. What for?"
"I'm sick of driving everyone crazy with the sexual tension."
"Feel better?"
"Danny?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you have a problem with a reporter dating the Press Secretary?"
"No, as long as I'm the reporter and you're the Press Secretary." He smiled.
C.J. kissed him again. "Pick me up tonight?"
"Sure. What time?"
"Seven?"
"Yeah, okay." Danny stood up. "Do they know that you set them up with the press?"
"No, and I'd like to keep it that way. I don't think a lot of people would be happy with my messing with the press just to play Yenta."
"I don't know, I think they would be grateful."
"I'll tell them after they've had their first child."
"Josh Lyman."
"Hi, Donna, it's Sam."
"Hey, Sam."
"You look good on television. Did you wear that dress just to impress the TV viewers or..."
"Sam?"
"Yes?"
"Shut up!"
"Are you and Josh finally together?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means that you're a bunch of blockheads and are you two finally together?"
"We've told each other that we love each other and in front of the President no less, but I don't know if that means if we're together or not."
"Blockheads."
"Thanks, Sam. Did you call for anything or did you just call up to remind me and Josh how stupid we are?"
"I saw you on television and wanted to know if you were okay. You and Josh looked really sweet together holding hands facing the press together."
"I'm going to tell him you thought we looked cute and he's going to have words with you."
"Donna, seriously, is everything okay? It's not easy having your life sprayed all over the newspapers."
"I guess you would know with the having your picture taken with a prostitute and then running for Congress."
"I'm calling to be nice and you're making fun of me!"
"Sam, you called me and Josh blockheads."
"Ask anyone they'll agree."
"Everything's fine, Sam. It means a lot that you called."
"Will you keep me posted?"
"Yes, Sam."
"Josh already promised to let me be the best man so I should be one of your first phone calls."
"Sam!"
"Oh come on, Donna, you've thought about it."
"This is all your fault anyway."
"How is it my fault?"
"It just is. You had to be all...it just is," Donna accused.
"Fine, I'll happily accept blame for this. It'll be in my toast as best man at your wedding."
"Don't you have work to do?"
"Yeah. Hey, is your boss around?"
"No, he's still in a meeting with Leo, Toby and the President."
"What's the meeting about?"
"The cheese in Wisconsin, Sam."
"I sense a tone, Donna."
"They're discussing damage control."
"Why aren't you in there with your man?"
"Because I was asked to step out."
"I have a better idea, will you patch me through to Debbie or Charlie please?"
"Why?"
"I have some urgent news for the President."
"Sam!"
"I have the number, Donna, I can just call myself."
"Fine."
Donna forwarded the call and smiled as she hung up.
"Mr. President?" Charlie entered the Oval Office quietly.
"Yeah?"
"Sam Seaborn is on the phone."
"Excellent, put him through, Charlie, and then come in here too."
"Is this about Team Josh?"
Josh buried his face in his hands. He mumbled something quietly.
"I'm sorry, Josh, we couldn't hear you." The President smirked.
Josh looked around the room. "Was that out loud?"
"What'd you say?" Leo asked.
"Why there's never a national emergency when you need one."
The men erupted with laughter. Charlie came back in and put the phone on speaker next to the President.
"Sam?"
"Hi, Mr. President."
"How are you?"
"I'm well, sir. How are you?"
"You're missing all of the fun, Sam. Did you hear what happened?"
"I caught a little on the news and I just talked to Donna."
"What did she say?" Josh suddenly very enthused about the conversation.
"Hi, Josh," replied Sam.
"Hi, Sam, what did she say?"
"She just told me what happened between the two of you in Leo's office with the President." Sam asked. "What's going on there?"
"Well we're talking to Josh about what his intentions are towards Donnatella Moss. She's one of the family, you know."
"Yes, Mr. President." Josh glanced over at Toby. "You've been awfully quiet over there."
"You going to ask her to marry you?"
Josh's eyes widened. "Why did I even go there?"
Toby smiled. "Pay backs a bitch!"
"Pay back?" Josh looked over at his friend.
"I believe Team Toby was your idea and you also spread the news about the house with Andi."
"Ah!" Josh made a face like he was going to be sick. "I was just trying to help."
"As am I."
"May I be excused?" Josh asked.
"I'm afraid we're not done here yet, Josh."
It was almost lunchtime when Josh returned to his office. Donna was sitting in his chair, her legs draped over the arm of the chair and her head was resting against the back of it. He quietly closed both of the doors and approached the woman. He stared at her for a long time. She had her haired pulled back with a pen through it to hold it in place, she often did that to keep her hair out of her face. She was still wearing the red dress from the night before.
"Donna?"'
She opened her eyes immediately and turned to him. "I'm sorry, I just..."
"Hey, it's okay." He kneeled down in front of her lightly stroking her calf. "We can leave now if you want."
"Is everything okay?"
"Everything is fine. The President has ordered us to take the rest of the weekend off and do some serious talking. Plus I'm sure you want to change into something a little less fancy. I thought I would take you to your apartment and you can do what you need to do and then I'll take you out for lunch."
"I like that plan." Donna felt a chill run up her spine from his feather light touches.
Josh stood up holding his hand out for hers. She accepted it and he pulled her to her feet. She was standing in front of him a little shorter than usual because she didn't have on her heels. He kissed her forehead.
"Let's get out of here."
"Let's!"
A few minutes later they were strolling out of the White House. Josh's cell phone rang. He flipped it open. "Josh Lyman." His face melted into the nauseated-I'm-in-trouble-now expression. "Hi, Mom!"
Just then Donna's phone rang too. She pulled it out of her purse. She pushed talk. "Hi, Momma."
Josh pulled his t-shirt over his head and looked at her with that this-is-not-fault expression. "Apparently the press thinks we're having an affair."
Donna was looking for the zipper on the side of the dress; she froze and looked up at Josh. "Strip!"
Josh smirked. "What?"
"Strip!" she ordered again.
"I can't, we have to be in Leo's office in twenty minutes."
"If I'm going to be accused of having an affair," she approached Josh reaching for the hem of his shirt, "I'm going to by god be wreaking the benefits of one."
Josh grabbed her wrists and pulled her against him. "While I applaud the thought, Leo's waiting and I don't want our first time to be with the press twenty feet from the building thinking that we're doing what we would be doing."
"They ruined our moment. In fact our moments keep on getting ruined." She buried her face in the crook of his neck.
He stroked her hair lightly and inhaled deeply. He loved her scent, she smelled like lilacs and vanilla with an underlying musk that was all woman. "I know this sucks, but I promise I'll make up for all the ruined moments."
"Really?"
"Truly." He nipped playfully at her ear.
She giggled and pulled back to look at him. "How are we getting out of here?"
He had an evil grin on his face. "I'm glad you asked."
"Hi, Margaret." Donna stood in front of her friend's desk.
"Is it true?"
Donna smiled at the red head. She was the queen gossip in the White House among other things. "Is what true?"
"Are you and Josh having an..."
"Good morning, Margaret." Josh strutted in.
"Hi, Josh." Margaret eyed them carefully and then nodded. "You can go in."
Josh reached for Donna's hand and pulled her behind him. They tentatively stood in front of Leo who was reading a document.
"Leo?"
"We're waiting for someone," he said simply without moving his eyes off the paper.
"Good morning." Jed Bartlett strolled through the connecting doors between the Chief of Staff's office and the Oval Office.
Donna tensed up next Josh, he squeezed her hand to reassure her that he was there with her and that everything was going to be okay.
"Good morning, Mr. President," they said together.
"Good morning, sir." Leo stood up at the President's appearance.
"I was told there is a situation of some kind." President Bartlett looked from Donna and Josh to Leo.
Leo nodded seriously. "C.J. called me this morning. Danny has a quote from an unnamed source that Josh and Donna are having an affair."
"Interesting. Any pictures taken?"
Leo glanced over at Josh. "Just the ones leaving my apartment this morning," Josh replied.
"Donna was at your apartment this morning at five-thirty?" Bartlett asked.
"Yes, sir."
"What business could you possibly be conducting five-thirty in the morning on a Saturday?"
"She wasn't there on business, sir."
"It's all my fault. See I had dinner with Commander Reece last night and he proposed to me and then he took it back because he said that I was in love with Josh and well I got a little drunk last night and I couldn't remember where I lived or where my keys were so I just went over to Josh's I wanted to talk to him about what had happened anyway and well sir we woke up and Leo called and here we are. Mr. President we're not having an affair."
"At least not yet," Josh muttered.
"I'm sorry, Josh, did you say something? I didn't quite hear you."
Josh looked at the President. "I said, at least not yet, Mr. President."
"Are you saying that you're planning on having an affair with Donna?" Josh noticed the smirk play across his face.
"No, sir, not an affair. See this morning I told Donna that I love her and I do very much and I fully intend to do something about it, that is if she loves me back. I understand how it looks from a PR point of view and if you want me to resign I would be happy to, but don't punish Donna."
"Donna?" The President looked over at the stunned young woman in front of him.
"Yes, sir?" Her voice was heavy with emotion.
"How do you feel?"
"About which part, sir?"
"What Josh just said."
"First of all if Josh resigns, I resign and second of all I love him too and would love for him to do something about it...finally."
Bartlett couldn't help but laugh. "I'm afraid we all agree with you, Donna. Finally!"
"What happens now?" Josh asked.
"I definitely hate to say it like this, but there needs to be some damage control." Leo looked behind Josh and Donna.
"That's what I'm here for."
Josh and Donna both turned around to see C.J. and Toby standing directly behind them.
After talking Josh and Donna through the next forty-eight hours of their life C.J. meandered back to her office where Danny was sitting on her couch. C.J. sat down next to him on the couch.
"How'd it go?"
"A lot better than I thought. Apparently right before Leo called Josh told Donna he loved her and she reciprocated his feelings right there in Leo's office." C.J. leaned towards Danny just a little. "Thanks for leaking the story for me."
"I can't believe it took those fools so long to realize that if you're in love you should just really do something about it and not drive..."
C.J. cut him off by pressing her lips to his. She pulled back eventually and looked at him for a reaction. "...Everyone crazy with all the sexual tension," he finished.
"Danny?"
"Yeah?"
"I just kissed you."
"I noticed that. What for?"
"I'm sick of driving everyone crazy with the sexual tension."
"Feel better?"
"Danny?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you have a problem with a reporter dating the Press Secretary?"
"No, as long as I'm the reporter and you're the Press Secretary." He smiled.
C.J. kissed him again. "Pick me up tonight?"
"Sure. What time?"
"Seven?"
"Yeah, okay." Danny stood up. "Do they know that you set them up with the press?"
"No, and I'd like to keep it that way. I don't think a lot of people would be happy with my messing with the press just to play Yenta."
"I don't know, I think they would be grateful."
"I'll tell them after they've had their first child."
"Josh Lyman."
"Hi, Donna, it's Sam."
"Hey, Sam."
"You look good on television. Did you wear that dress just to impress the TV viewers or..."
"Sam?"
"Yes?"
"Shut up!"
"Are you and Josh finally together?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means that you're a bunch of blockheads and are you two finally together?"
"We've told each other that we love each other and in front of the President no less, but I don't know if that means if we're together or not."
"Blockheads."
"Thanks, Sam. Did you call for anything or did you just call up to remind me and Josh how stupid we are?"
"I saw you on television and wanted to know if you were okay. You and Josh looked really sweet together holding hands facing the press together."
"I'm going to tell him you thought we looked cute and he's going to have words with you."
"Donna, seriously, is everything okay? It's not easy having your life sprayed all over the newspapers."
"I guess you would know with the having your picture taken with a prostitute and then running for Congress."
"I'm calling to be nice and you're making fun of me!"
"Sam, you called me and Josh blockheads."
"Ask anyone they'll agree."
"Everything's fine, Sam. It means a lot that you called."
"Will you keep me posted?"
"Yes, Sam."
"Josh already promised to let me be the best man so I should be one of your first phone calls."
"Sam!"
"Oh come on, Donna, you've thought about it."
"This is all your fault anyway."
"How is it my fault?"
"It just is. You had to be all...it just is," Donna accused.
"Fine, I'll happily accept blame for this. It'll be in my toast as best man at your wedding."
"Don't you have work to do?"
"Yeah. Hey, is your boss around?"
"No, he's still in a meeting with Leo, Toby and the President."
"What's the meeting about?"
"The cheese in Wisconsin, Sam."
"I sense a tone, Donna."
"They're discussing damage control."
"Why aren't you in there with your man?"
"Because I was asked to step out."
"I have a better idea, will you patch me through to Debbie or Charlie please?"
"Why?"
"I have some urgent news for the President."
"Sam!"
"I have the number, Donna, I can just call myself."
"Fine."
Donna forwarded the call and smiled as she hung up.
"Mr. President?" Charlie entered the Oval Office quietly.
"Yeah?"
"Sam Seaborn is on the phone."
"Excellent, put him through, Charlie, and then come in here too."
"Is this about Team Josh?"
Josh buried his face in his hands. He mumbled something quietly.
"I'm sorry, Josh, we couldn't hear you." The President smirked.
Josh looked around the room. "Was that out loud?"
"What'd you say?" Leo asked.
"Why there's never a national emergency when you need one."
The men erupted with laughter. Charlie came back in and put the phone on speaker next to the President.
"Sam?"
"Hi, Mr. President."
"How are you?"
"I'm well, sir. How are you?"
"You're missing all of the fun, Sam. Did you hear what happened?"
"I caught a little on the news and I just talked to Donna."
"What did she say?" Josh suddenly very enthused about the conversation.
"Hi, Josh," replied Sam.
"Hi, Sam, what did she say?"
"She just told me what happened between the two of you in Leo's office with the President." Sam asked. "What's going on there?"
"Well we're talking to Josh about what his intentions are towards Donnatella Moss. She's one of the family, you know."
"Yes, Mr. President." Josh glanced over at Toby. "You've been awfully quiet over there."
"You going to ask her to marry you?"
Josh's eyes widened. "Why did I even go there?"
Toby smiled. "Pay backs a bitch!"
"Pay back?" Josh looked over at his friend.
"I believe Team Toby was your idea and you also spread the news about the house with Andi."
"Ah!" Josh made a face like he was going to be sick. "I was just trying to help."
"As am I."
"May I be excused?" Josh asked.
"I'm afraid we're not done here yet, Josh."
It was almost lunchtime when Josh returned to his office. Donna was sitting in his chair, her legs draped over the arm of the chair and her head was resting against the back of it. He quietly closed both of the doors and approached the woman. He stared at her for a long time. She had her haired pulled back with a pen through it to hold it in place, she often did that to keep her hair out of her face. She was still wearing the red dress from the night before.
"Donna?"'
She opened her eyes immediately and turned to him. "I'm sorry, I just..."
"Hey, it's okay." He kneeled down in front of her lightly stroking her calf. "We can leave now if you want."
"Is everything okay?"
"Everything is fine. The President has ordered us to take the rest of the weekend off and do some serious talking. Plus I'm sure you want to change into something a little less fancy. I thought I would take you to your apartment and you can do what you need to do and then I'll take you out for lunch."
"I like that plan." Donna felt a chill run up her spine from his feather light touches.
Josh stood up holding his hand out for hers. She accepted it and he pulled her to her feet. She was standing in front of him a little shorter than usual because she didn't have on her heels. He kissed her forehead.
"Let's get out of here."
"Let's!"
A few minutes later they were strolling out of the White House. Josh's cell phone rang. He flipped it open. "Josh Lyman." His face melted into the nauseated-I'm-in-trouble-now expression. "Hi, Mom!"
Just then Donna's phone rang too. She pulled it out of her purse. She pushed talk. "Hi, Momma."