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.

"Josh?" Donna stood in the doorway of his office, a pained expression set firmly on her face.

"Donna, what's wrong?" he asked, closing one file on his piled-up next and opening another. The Bartlet administration had been in office for less than a week, and Josh was literally up to his eyeballs in paper.

She bit her bottom lip and shifted her weight from one foot to the other. "I don't know if I should even be telling you this, but..."

"Donna," he said irritably, "what is it?"

"It's Ellie."

The words stopped him dead in his tracks. Josh looked up from his desk to his assistant. "What about her?" he demanded.

"That phone call a minute ago? It was from Mrs. Landingham," she explained, "she wanted to let the Senior Staff know that the President was on his way to the hospital..."

Josh was already on his feet, grabbing his jacket and ever-present backpack. "Hospital?"

"Walter Reed," she continued to explain as he brushed past her. She pursued him down the hallway, finally grabbing his arm. "Josh, stop."

He spun and faced her. "What?"

"I don't know that you should be there," she bit her bottom lip again, dreading the thought of going down this very dangerous path with her boss. "Ellie....Ellie had a miscarriage."

"What?" Josh stammered, leaning against the wall for support. "But, she was doing so good, at least I thought..."

"I don't know any specifics, Josh, just what Mrs. Landingham told me."

"Where's David?" he demanded, gathering his composure and starting down the hall again.

"Flying patrols in the Middle East," she answered.

"Why is he never here when she needs him?" Josh growled.

"Josh, that's not fair and you know it," she argued.

"Whatever," he countered, making his way to the exit and turning to his assistant. "If you need me, I'll be at the hospital."

Josh knelt down beside the President in the hospital chapel. "Mr. President?" he whispered.

The President closed his eyes and quietly wiped the tear rolling down his cheek. "My little girl is hurting more than I ever thought she could," he said, "Certainly more than I ever wanted her too. I've never felt more helpless in my life."

"How is she?" Josh asked.

"Physically, they say she'll be fine. Emotionally, I just don't know," he answered.

"Sir, I'd really like to see her, if that would be okay with you and Mrs. Bartlet."

The President eyed him with only minor suspicion. "You've been a good friend to her, Josh. I certainly wouldn't say no."

"Thank you, Sir."

The President nodded. "She's in room 312."

He left the President in the chapel with his Secret Service agents and made the long walk down to the elevators, then a longer walk down the third floor hallway to room 312. He knocked gently on the door and pushed it open. The First Lady sat at Ellie's bedside, absent-mindedly stroking her daughter's hand and singing softly while she slept. Abbey Bartlet turned and looked at him with a blank expression. "Joshua," she finally acknowledged. "So nice of you to come."

He motioned at Ellie. "How is she?"

"She's sleeping," she answered, "but I don't know how peaceful it is. I think she may already be having nightmares."

"What happened?" he asked quietly, sitting down in one of the chairs beside Ellie's bed.

Abbey sighed heavily. "They don't know," she answered honestly. "Ellie woke up this morning in agony and came straight here. Josh, she'd been here almost five hours before she called. She didn't want to worry us," she scoffed. "Like I'm not worried enough now."

"She seems to be pretty peaceful now. Why don't you get some coffee or something?" he offered, "I can stay here for a while."

Abbey took a deep breath and gazed at her daughter. "I suppose I can do that." She stood and patted Josh on the leg. "I know my daughter's in good hands with you."

"The best, Mrs. B," he answered.

Abbey stepped out of the room, leaving Josh and Ellie alone. She stirred and he jumped out of his chair and into the one Mrs. Bartlet had been occupying, taking Ellie's hand in his. He reached his hand up and smoothed her hair with his fingers. "Hey, you're awake."

Ellie closed her eyes again, and wiped tears away with her free hand. "I was never asleep," she answered, fighting the sobs threatening to overtake her. "I just couldn't listen to my mother say anymore that everything happens for a reason."

"Well, I believe that shitty things sometimes happen and there is no reason," he said with a weak smile. "Is that better?"

"It sounds better right now," she said quietly.

He brought her hand up to his lips and placed a gentle kiss on her soft skin. "I'm so sorry, Ellie," he muttered.

"Me too," she answered as she began to sob quietly. He climbed onto the bed beside her and wrapped her into his arms. He kissed the top of her head and held her tightly, rocking her gently while she cried. She fell asleep in his arms, resting against his chest with her arm draped around his waist. Abbey walked back into the hospital and, if she was stunned by the scene before her, she didn't let on.

"She fell asleep," Josh said guiltily, "I didn't want to move and wake her."

"It's fine, Joshua," she answered, handing him a cup of coffee.

"Thanks," he replied, moving uncomfortably to take a sip of the hot liquid.

"You care about my daughter, don't you?" Abbey asked, taking a seat in the chair Josh had occupied before.

Josh tried to formulate an answer, but Abbey cut him off. "Come on, Josh, it's written all over your face and I'm an intelligent woman, it didn't take much to figure it out."

"Yes, ma'am, I do," he answered truthfully.

"How deep do these feelings run, Josh?" she continued questioning him.

"I love her, Mrs. Bartlet," he said quietly.

She nodded and sighed. "I know you do, Josh. What are you going to do about that?"

Josh laughed bitterly. "Keep my damned mouth shut, Mrs. B. She's got enough to worry about without having to worry about me."

"It's a difficult thing, Josh. Loving someone from afar. I've been there, have I told you the story?" Josh shook his head and she continued. "Jed. When I met Jed, he was head over heels in love with this girl named Jane. He wanted to be my friend. Ha! A friend. But I knew that I was in love with him already, and it hurt so much to see him with her." She paused and watched Josh's pained expression as he looked down at Ellie.

"She loves you too, Josh."

Josh stared at the First Lady, his face registering only half the shock he was feeling. "What?" he stammered.

"She loves you, Josh. I think she has from the minute she laid eyes on you," Abbey explained. "She has no idea what to do about it, or how to handle it, but just know that she does."

"What should I do?" Josh asked quietly.

"Be here for her, like you are right now. She's going to need your friendship more than anything else right now. Please don't take it away from her because it hurts."

He leaned back against the bed and sighed. "Never," he muttered, almost inaudibly.

TBC....