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 fumbled with his key, inserting it into the lock for the fifth time. "Damn it," he growled.

"Take your time, Josh," Donna whined behind him, burdened with his bags and hospital gifts. "It's not like all this crap is heavy or anything."

"Bite me," he shot back, finally getting the lock to turn. He pushed the door to his condo open and was greeted with a loud "Surprise!"

Josh stared wide-eyed at the crowd gathered in his condo. It seemed everyone was there – Toby, Sam, Leo, C.J., half the assistants and his congressman friends. His eyes scanned the room, desperately looking for the one person he actually wanted to see right then – Ellie. She was standing against the doorframe of the kitchen, smiling brightly and blowing into a noisemaker. Beside her stood David. Josh sighed and fought back the curse threatening to escape his lips. He hugged each member of the assembled group, gratefully accepting their congratulations and words of wisdom for his recovery. He reached out for Sam, who immediately enveloped his best friend in his arms. "David's here?" Josh whispered.

"Long story, she's not happy about it either," Sam explained, patting him on the back.

"Yeah," Josh said, pulling away to hug Leo's assistant, Margaret.

Josh saw Eleanor heading toward the bathroom in his bedroom and decided to follow. He shut the door behind him and waited until she emerged. She smiled and sat down beside him on the bed.

"Welcome Home," she said, patting his knee.

"Thanks," he answered with a grin, "I had the most amazing doctor who took such good care of me."

Ellie smiled shyly and turned her face away from him. "Dr. Killan is the best."

He cupped her chin with his hand and turned her face to his. "I wasn't talking about Dr. Killan."

"Dr. Toland, then?" she teased, swallowing hard as his face closed in on hers.

"Ellie," he whispered, bringing his lips over hers. "Shut up." The kiss was gentle, but passionate, saying everything they couldn't say for themselves. Ellie wound her arms around Josh's neck as he pressed her down onto the pillows on his bed.

"Josh?" she whispered as his lips trailed down the side of her neck. "We have to stop."

"Don't wanna," he argued, tracing his fingers down her side.

"I don't either, but we have to," she replied, gently pushing him off her, careful of his bandages. "First of all, you're in no shape to be doing anything remotely like this, and second...."

Josh closed his eyes and sighed. "David's here."

Ellie nodded. "I've got a lot to figure out, Josh."

Josh took her hand in his and pressed a gentle kiss on it. "Ellie, do you love me?"

"You know I do, Josh," she answered honestly.

"Say it," he gently demanded, then added softly, "Please."

Ellie smiled gently and touched his face with her free hand. "I love you, Joshua Lyman."

"I love you too, Eleanor," he responded with a grin. "You have no idea how much."

"We should get back out there," she said, standing, her mind already wandering back to the party outside.

"Together or separately?" he wondered aloud.

"Together," she said, offering him her hand to help him stand. They made their way out through the throng of people assembled in Josh's tiny condo. Ellie made her way over to her husband, who was sitting on the couch, discussing the baseball game on the television with Toby and Sam.

He handed her a drink when she sat down. "What did Josh want?" David asked, his eyes burning a hole through her.

"What?" Ellie asked curiously, surprised that David had even noticed they came out of the bedroom together.

"Ellie, don't," David said irritably. "I saw him follow you into the bedroom. Christ, how stupid do you think I am?"

Ellie took a deep breath and sighed, fixing an equally steely gaze on her husband. "For your information, with all the hugging going on, Josh felt like he might have popped one of the stitches in his chest and seeing that I'm currently the only doctor in the room, he wanted me to check it out for him."

David stood from the couch and shook his head. "Maybe you should have been a politician. You've got the lying down to an art form."

Ellie took the hand he offered her to stand. "I think I'm ready to go home, David," she said angrily.

"Well, I was going with or without you," he shot back, quickly turning his back on her and heading for the door.

Ellie closed her eyes and fought back the tears threatening to fall. "I'm going to say goodbye to Josh," she said quietly.

"You do that," David answered, tossing her coat to her; then storming out.

Ellie swallowed hard and slid into the light jacket, slowly making her way over to where Josh stood talking to Leo. "Boys, I'm going to call it a night," she said, the tears in her eyes betraying the fake smile she'd plastered on her face.

"Ellie?" Josh questioned, taking her arm. She gently pulled away, leaning over to kiss her father-in-law on the cheek.

"Eleanor?" Leo asked.

"Leo, please, not now," she begged, "I have to go."

"I'll walk you out," Josh said, handing his drink to Leo and taking her arm again.

"Josh, that's not...." Ellie stopped and placed her hand on his. "Enjoy your party, I'll call you later."

"You better," he demanded, enveloping her in a quick hug. "I love you," he whispered, barely loud enough for her to hear.

She was facing Leo when Josh hugged her and couldn't answer without her father-in-law seeing, but she squeezed him and kissed his cheek, finally stepping away from him to go out the front door.

Josh watched her leave, his gaze fixed intently on her back, willing her to turn and look at him again. She didn't. He glanced out the window, watching as she slid into her car and praying everything was okay as David sped off into the night with the woman they both loved.

TBC....