Every evening
Brings an ending
Every day becomes a legacy
CJ wished her father were still alive to see this day, though in his last year his mind wandered so far she doubted the day would have held any meaning for him if he were there. His death from a stroke last June (at least it wasn't May, she often thought) came almost as a relief. At that point he still remembered who she was, though he kept asking her about classes at Berkley.
Every sunset
Leads to morning
With the promise of opportunity
It was near morning when Simon gave her the ring, the day after the election. Sitting on the front steps of her apartment building, she thought about how close she came to losing him in Miami, to a would-be-assassin's bullets. She told him she no longer confused independence and freedom with "no commitment, no strings attached." And he asked her to marry him then, because having come so close to losing everything, they no longer had to search for what was important. They've been through the fire and emerged stronger and closer than ever.
We can reach for the stars we find along the way
Dreaming as we learn to love everyday
Promise you will take my hand
As tomorrow comes
We'll go on
He went back to security details, because that was who he was. Owing to their relationship, he could no longer be on the President's detail, and that was sacrifice enough for him. She would never ask him to deny himself the job he loved, no matter how scared she was.
We'll go on
Growing closer through the years
Moving on
Through the good times and the tears
Ever on
Another thousand circles 'round the sun
If two can be as one
We'll go on
CJ floated in Simon's arms as they were dancing their wedding song. Her eyes closed, she was aware only of his body against hers, and the music seemed to fill not only the Rose Garden but her very soul as well. Not for the first time that day, she felt a lump in her throat and the tears threatened to flow. This day was everything she's ever dreamed of, and more.
There is music
If you listen
In the rhythm of each breath we take
Her gown was white silk with a silvery lace layer on top, shimmering in the bright May sun. Held tightly in Simon's arms, the gown seemed to caress her the way his hands often did, and she could feel his heart beat, blending with the music, as she pressed closer to him.
Destinations
Undiscovered
Revelations from every choice we make
It was May, because the previous May was when the stalker was caught and they went out for drinks after the play in New York. It was May because her friends – her chosen family – needed something to celebrate about a month that in the past brought Rosslyn, MS, and Mrs. Laningham's death. Simon and CJ were determined to break what CJ only half-jokingly called "The Curse of May."
"Well, we started breaking it last year," he said with a smile when she brought up the idea.
"Yes, but let's make it happen for everyone here." She said and he kissed her and agreed that May was perfect.
And I know
There are diamonds dancin' in the sky
All we have to do is open our eyes
At the first Senior Staff meeting after the election, CJ reached for her favorite cream cheese Danish, the light reflecting off the diamond on her finger and Josh choked on his coffee. Leo, mid-sentence, looked at him, annoyed.
"Josh, surely you've learned to drink from a cup by now!"
"Leo, there's a…thing…on CJ's finger…"
"What?"
CJ looked at Josh in disbelief and then started laughing until tears streamed down her cheeks. "It's called an engagement ring, Josh. Surely you've heard of it before?" That day, the enthusiastic and loving response that followed her announcement felt like a warm embrace that stayed with her all day. Even the White House reporters, catching a glimpse of the ring during her morning briefing, went out of their way to offer their congratulations, though they all managed to sneak in some good-natured teasing about her Special Agent's special qualities. She went home that night unable to stop smiling, and Simon's mood matched her own. Some of his co-workers caught her briefing on TV and put him through all sorts of friendly hell. That night, they both declared themselves the happiest people on the planet. It was then they decided on May for their wedding.
Promise
We'll walk side by side
As a new day dawns
We'll go on
On Inauguration Day, when they were all back at the White House following the ceremony, the President called CJ to his office.
"CJ, do you like the Rose Garden?"
"Sir?"
"Do you like the Rose Garden? Does it seem like a nice place to have a wedding?"
"Whose wedding, Sir?"
He gave her a look and she suddenly had to sit down. Remembering protocol, she contended herself with leaning heavily against the chair she stood next to.
"Mr. President…I couldn't…I mean, we would love to but…it's usually for First Family weddings."
"And how does your wedding NOT fit into this category?"
Now she was fighting back tears, unable to answer – a rare occurrence for her. He smiled softly and said, "If you have a date in mind, clear the Garden with whomever you need to clear it with. Make sure you tell them this event takes precedence over anything else scheduled for that day, and to deal with it."
She didn't think it would be possible on such short notice – barely five months away, with bill signings and summits galore planned for the Spring / Summer. But it was done with ease, and she suspected either Leo or the President leaned on some people to move events around and get her the Rose Garden for May 24th, 2003.
We'll go on
Growing closer through the years
Moving on
Through the good times and the tears
"The Rose Garden???" Simon looked at her in disbelief. They had booked a place already, shortly after their engagement. He stopped by her office later on Inauguration Day, after her talk with the President, and found her flushed with excitement. Trying to contain himself, he opted for gruffness. "Do you have any idea what our guests would have to go through to be here? Not to mention what my co-workers will do to me for putting them through vetting all these guests?"
"Would you like to be the one telling the President 'Thanks but no thanks'?"
He smiled softly and shook his head in disbelief. "I'm just in shock. It'll pass."
Ever on
Another thousand circles 'round the sun
CJ was a bundle of nerves as the date grew nearer. She was somehow able to do her job, though in her perfectionist mind her performance was less than satisfactory. She chose Hogan as her Maid of Honor. Simon's brother Andrew would be the Best Man. The caterer and photographer were set. The gown ordered. The music set. She was immensely grateful for Donna and Carol's help. They threw themselves into the preparation as enthusiastically as if this were their own wedding. It wasn't lost on CJ that Josh eased Donna's schedule enough to allow her the extra time to help with the wedding.
"I know what you're doing. Thanks, Josh," she said one morning, stopping by his office after her briefing.
"It gets Donna off my back. You know, she keeps nagging me about the Healthcare Bill. Something about her grandfather…" Then he gave her the Dimpled Grin. "Besides, I plan to ask you to do the Jackal at the wedding. And you can't say no. That and a dance," he added.
"You would have had the dance anyway," she laughed, and then her face softened. "You really are very sweet sometimes, you know."
"Yeah, well, don't spread the word."
At the wedding, she gave him two dances, and the Jackal, which rendered Simon's off-duty male comrades nearly catatonic. Come to think of it, even Ron Butterfield, very much on duty, seemed close to a heart attack. CJ grinned at Simon's appreciative catcalls, and his murderous looks at the other agents making the same noises.
"Double standard?" she asked sweetly when he folded her in his arms.
"Hey, you're my wife!"
She grinned. "You can't tell me you'll never again enjoy that kind of a performance by another woman, can you?"
Laughing, he raised his arms in a gesture of surrender. "Uncle. You win."
She danced with Toby, who, to her delight, came with Andi. She danced with Sam while Simon danced with Ainsley, and she danced with the President, who earlier walked her down the aisle. The First Lady danced with Simon, and refused to give him back.
"He's a better dancer than Jed," she grinned. "I think I'll keep him."
"You danced with him at the Inaugural Ball," protested her husband. "You didn't say anything then!"
"I had my suspicions. I needed to confirm them today."
Before the cake cutting ceremony, she told Simon she would kick his butt from here to the top of the Washington Monument if he smeared the cake on her face. He grinned at her mischievously. "Oh, but everyone expects it!"
"Remind me again why I trusted you with my life?"
"You had no choice."
"But I do now."
"And…?"
"And if you smear cake on my face I'll kick your butt from here to the top of the Washington Monument. But I would still trust you with my life."
He didn't smear cake on her face.
Donna caught the bouquet, so Simon made sure the garter was aimed at Josh. "Secret Service training comes in handy at the most unexpected times," he quipped as CJ gave him the thumbs up sign. She made sure the photographer caught the reluctant couple's flushed faces as Josh pushed the garter up Donna's leg. CJ promised Josh to pass copies of the pictures to the press if he didn't pay Donna more attention for the rest of the afternoon. Apparently the threat worked, because the two spent the entire afternoon dancing and chatting with each other. Ainsley and Sam needed no such threats.
Hogan danced with Anthony for seemingly the whole day.
"I want a picture of these two," CJ smiled.
"That's one for the books, for sure," Simon smiled in reply.
There were many pictures for the books that day. Group pictures, pictures of individuals, and couples pictures. None of these pictured rivaled the one candid shot of a radiant bride looking up at her ecstatic groom, their smiles bright, and their eyes speaking of the deepest love that was strong enough to break "The Curse of May."
A new life has begun
When two of us are one
And we live to keep the promise
We'll go on
Ever on
We'll go on