Disclaimer – I do not own these characters – they are the property of NBC, John Wells and the fabulous Aaron Sorkin. I do own Emma Lyman and any other characters I invent, but please feel free to borrow them. Just let me know what you're doing with them!

Rating – PG-13

Spoilers – this is a sequel to That Which Time Cannot Erase

Pairings – Sam/Donna, Josh/Ellie

Summary – Sam and Donna's wedding goes off without a hitch – yeah right, come on, how much fun would THAT be????

A/N – Many thanks to Spn1 – who provided the inspiration for this piece!

Eleanor Bartlet Lyman spun around on the dais outside the dressing room, frowning at her figure reflected in the mirror. "It is a testament to our friendship that I'm doing this for you," she said with only the slightest hint of exasperation in her voice. "I look like a beached whale."

Donna laughed from her spot on the white leather couch in the bridal shop. "You do not look like a beached whale. You're pregnant, Ellie, and you're gorgeous."

"Did my husband pay you to say that?" Ellie teased, straightening the midnight blue silk with her fingers.

"Nope, that was a freebie," Donna replied with a grin.

C.J. exited another dressing room and stepped in front of the mirror. "Damn, I look good," she said assuredly, turning around so she could see the back of the dress. "I mean, is it me or do I look hot?"

"You look very hot," Donna agreed with a nod. "You may even look hotter than the bride."

C.J. rolled her eyes. "Perish the thought." She continued to admire her reflection in the mirror. "You know what I love about you, Miss Moss-soon- to-be-Seaborn? You have fabulous taste."

"And here all this time, I thought you loved me for my bubbling personality," Donna teased.

"So was Sam pissed about the stripper?" Ellie asked curiously while the bridal shop owner, Mrs. Kellogg, inspected the fit of her gown.

"He was so drunk when he got home, I don't think he even remembers there was a stripper," Donna answered.

Ellie shook her head with dismay. "Josh woke the entire neighborhood up. I swear that man does not comprehend the word 'quiet'. Thank God Emma was at the Residence. I'd hate to have to kill him now – the training is just starting to pay off."

The women laughed at the idea of Josh Lyman being trained to do anything. "Andy wasn't so lucky," C.J. explained, "Toby was having a moment of inspiration and thought the twins needed to heed some of their father's wisdom."

"Men," Donna sighed.

"What are you sighing for?" C.J. laughed. "You have Sam. Ellie's the one stuck with Josh, and Andy's got Mr. Happy Pants."

"Sam's pretty great," Donna smiled broadly. "I'm a lucky, lucky girl."

"And he's an even luckier guy," Ellie interjected.

"Amen to that," C.J. agreed with a nod.

Mrs. Kellogg patted Ellie on the shoulder and told her she could go change, then set to work on C.J. Ellie emerged from the dressing room a minute later, pulling her hair out of her collar. She collapsed on the couch beside Donna. Donna's cell phone rang in her purse and she reached in to grab it.

"Hello, Joshua," Donna said after checking the Caller ID.

Ellie rolled her eyes and reached for the phone. "What do you want, Josh? We're busy women, there's a wedding in three days."

"Hello, honey, I love you too, can I please speak to my assistant? She is my assistant, you know, in addition to being the bride," Josh griped.

"Give me one good reason," Ellie demanded playfully.

"There's been a bombing at the American Embassy in Syria," he explained with a sigh. "Happy now?"

"Well, no, not exactly," she said with a frown, handing the phone back to Donna. "It's bad news."

"Josh?" Donna asked curiously. She listened intently as he explained the situation.

"I know you're doing the bridesmaids' dress thing and all, but I really need you back here," he said apologetically.

"Don't worry about it, C.J. and I are on our way," Donna said with a shake of her head.

C.J. emerged from the dressing room and stared at the women, who no longer wore the happy expressions they'd had when she stepped away. "What's up?" she asked cautiously.

"There's been a bombing at the embassy in Syria," Donna explained, gathering her coat and purse.

"Aw hell," C.J. moaned, grabbing her coat as well. She leaned over and helped Ellie stand from the couch. "I guess lunch is off."

"Looks like it," Ellie agreed. "I'll run by the deli and bring you guys some food. I was going to take Josh something anyway."

"You're an angel," Donna said, hugging Ellie quickly. "We'll see you in a little while."

Donna and C.J. rounded the first corner of the West Wing, falling right into step with Sam and Josh, who immediately began filling them in.

"Car bomb set off right outside the front door of the embassy. We don't yet know how in the hell the car was allowed to get that close. 14 dead, 23 wounded, 5 of those critically. One was the ambassador's daughter, who was on her way home from school."

"Dear Lord," C.J. groaned. "Anyone claiming responsibility?"

"Not yet," Josh sighed, "Defense is working on it, though, agents talking to their contacts, that kind of thing."

They made their way to the door of the White House Briefing Room and C.J. swung around to face them, grabbing a stack of papers from Josh. "Wish me luck," she said wearily, entering the room and taking the podium. "Good afternoon everyone," she began, "I have some information for you on the bombing, not much, but some..."

TBC...