Disclaimer – I don't own any of these characters – they are the property of NBC, John Wells and the fabulous Aaron Sorkin.

Rating – PG for now

Pairings – Josh/Ellie, Ellie/OC

Spoilers – None

Summary – Josh Lyman meets Eleanor Bartlet during the campaign and falls in love with the young, married medical student. For the purposes of my story, Ellie is several years older in this story and very different than she is on the show.

I've had this story in my head for years, and have finally forged the courage to begin writing. Here's hoping you enjoy it!! The song by Evanescence, "My Immortal" is the soundtrack for the story.

In my sick and twisted imagination, David McGarry looks peculiarly like Ron Livingston. If you don't know who Ron Livingston is A) you're missing out and B) check out either Band of Brothers on the History Channel (he plays Nixon) or the movie "Office Space".

"You know," Donna commented, taking the seat beside Josh on the train to Syracuse, "if Ellie wasn't already married, you two would be perfect for each other."

Josh looked up from his reading and stared at this assistant with eyes as wide as saucers. "What did you say?" he stammered.

Donna took a sip of her soda and rolled her eyes. "I said that you and Ellie would be perfect together."

Josh rolled his eyes and sank deeper into his seat. "I'm going to pretend that you didn't just tell me that I'd be perfect for my boss's married daughter."

Donna glared at him. "Well, you know it's true, Josh, I can tell you're attracted to her."

"Am not," Josh shot back just as Ellie sat down across from him. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat and refused to make eye contact with her.

"Attracted to who?" Ellie asked brightly, popping an M&M into her mouth.

"Nobody," Josh said too quickly, focusing his attention on the speech in front of him.

Ellie nudged Donna's leg with her foot. "Come on, Donnatella, you tell me, since Grumpy Pants over there won't."

Josh glared at her. "I am not Grumpy Pants, I just don't feel like talking about who I may or may not be attracted to with the two of you," he shot back irritably.

"Somebody needs some more sleep," Ellie pouted, her bottom lip stuck out dramatically.

"Isn't your husband meeting us in Syracuse?" Josh asked, the tone of his voice still dripping with fury.

Ellie broke out into a huge grin. "Yes, he is," she said happily.

"So, isn't there something you should be doing right now?" he questioned.

Ellie popped another M&M into her mouth. "Like what?"

"Primping, I don't know," he said crossly.

"I don't need to primp, Joshua, I'm naturally gorgeous," she said dramatically.

Josh frowned and went back to reading the speech, wishing he didn't agree with her. Ellie glanced over at Donna, who looked away quickly. She nudged Josh with her foot, and he glanced up at her. "Oh, come on, that doesn't even get a snicker?" she asked with a smile.

"I'm sorry," he muttered, staring back down at the speech.

"What's bothering you, Josh?" she asked tenderly.

"Nothing," he answered, never diverting his eyes from the papers.

"Liar," she shot back, waiting for a response. "Fine, if you don't want to tell me."

"I really don't," he answered flatly.

"Ooookay," she drawled, rising from her seat. "I'll be up front primping if you need me." Josh looked up finally and watched Ellie making her way down the aisle of the train car, finally sitting down beside her father.

Donna smacked him on the arm. "OW!" he howled, rubbing his arm. "What was that for?"

"Moron," she answered, standing up defiantly and storming away.

Josh climbed out of the Suburban and offered a hand to Ellie and Donna as they stepped out. Ellie took his hand and immediately broke out into a huge grin. It was only after Josh returned her smile that he realized that she was looking past him.

"David!" she squealed, sprinting past Josh and jumping into her husband's arms. David McGarry hugged his wife tightly and pressed a firm kiss to her lips, touching the sides of her face tenderly.

"God, I missed you," he said gently, refusing to release his grip on her waist.

"The feeling is definitely mutual," she said with a nod.

"Hello, son," Leo said happily, stepping up to the couple. David finally released his hold on Ellie and enveloped his father into his arms.

"Hey, Pop," David said, patting his father on the back.

Leo stepped slightly away from his son and grasped David's face with his hands. "Handsome as ever," Leo teased. "Come on, I want you to meet everybody."

David wrapped his arm around Ellie's waist and followed his father over to the Suburban, where the campaign team was beginning to unload. Josh watched the display; fighting back the jealousy he felt bubbling up in the pit of his stomach. Donna watched him with a knowing look on her face.

Leo stepped over to Josh and patted the younger man on the shoulder. "Josh, I'd like you to meet my son, David. David, this is Josh Lyman, our Senior Political Director and Ellie's summer boss."

David grinned and extended his hand to Josh. "Nice to meet you finally. Ellie's told me a lot about you." Then, he turned to Donna. "And you must be the fabulous Donnatella Moss."

Donna blushed. "I must," she said with a grin.

Josh fought the urge to roll his eyes and sized up David McGarry. Josh could just hear Donna now, calling David "classically handsome." He was tall – taller than Josh with jet-black hair and deep brown eyes. The chiseled features of his face were set on a perfectly toned physique – one most men would kill for.

"Well, let's get this stuff inside, shall we?" David asked, clapping his hands together and then motioning for a hotel bellman.

Once inside Josh's room, Donna swooned dramatically onto the bed. "Wow," she marveled. "I mean, wow, I have seen gorgeous men before, but....wow."

"That's enough, Donnatella," Josh warned, flipping his suitcase open and taking out his shaving kit.

"He looks like he just stepped out of a 1940s movie, you know?" Donna answered with a far-away look in her eyes.

"That's nice," he said irritably, flicking the light on in the bathroom and arranging his toiletries on the counter.

Donna rolled onto her stomach, facing him. "I'm sorry, Josh, that was very insensitive of me."

"What are you talking about?" he asked angrily.

"Well, it's not very nice of me to be mooning over David McGarry when you're in love with his wife," she explained.

"I am not in love with...." Josh sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I'm not having this conversation with you."

"And a Bah-humbug to you too!" she teased, rising from the bed and straightening her skirt. "I'm going to my room," she announced, heading for the door.

"Thank God!" Josh shouted after her retreating form.

TBC.....