September 2003

"Toby?"
"I'm busy, go away."

CJ ignored him. Walking to his couch, she sat down, stretching her long legs with a sigh. After several minutes of furious typing, the White House Communication Director looked up with a scowl she knew well enough to ignore.

"What part of 'go away' did you fail to understand?"
"The part where, as your direct report, I feel duty-bound to inform you that Simon and I might become parents in 2 months."
Toby blinked. "What?"
She opened her mouth to repeat the statement and he cut her off. "Stand up."

She did, grinning. He looked her up and down, closely. She was her usual slim, slick self.
"Where are you hiding a 7-month fetus, CJ?"
"In Arizona," She giggled.

"Sit. Talk." He barked.
She rolled her eyes. "Just how DID you come by the 'Communication Director' title, Pokey? Doesn't that imply some skill in, you know, communicating?"
"CJ," she recognized the warning signs and raised her hands. "OK. Here's the scoop."

She took a deep breath. "Simon and I have been talking about having kids for a while now. Problem is I can't conceive anymore. Don't even think about asking," she added warningly. He nodded and she went on. "We talked about adoption. In fact, we've been looking into it for a while. Last month we found out that a birthmother in Arizona, whom we've contacted in July, chose us to adopt her baby. She's due in November."

Toby chewed his lip for a moment. "Wow."
She sighed, half nervously, half wistfully. "Yeah."
"How come you didn't tell me you were looking into it?"

"I don't know," she said honestly. Toby was her best friend and yet…"I guess it's like telling people you're trying to get pregnant. It doesn't usually come up."
"Andi and the twins didn't help, huh?" He asked.
She shrugged. He nodded. "OK. I'm busy, go away."

She smiled and got up to leave. His voice stopped her at the door. "CJ?"
She turned. "Is there anything I can do? I'm here whenever you need me…" His voice trailed off.
She nodded. "I know," she said softly. "Just wish us a smooth sailing, OK? A lot can happen."
"When are you going to tell the others?"
"Senior Staff tomorrow. But Toby," she took a deep breath. "If the press gets wind of this…It could scare off the birthmom. It could…" She shook her head helplessly.

"We'll leash Josh to a desk," Toby smiled softly. They both knew it was nearly impossible to keep a secret in the building. CJ tried to smile, and left.

Next Morning, Oval Office

"OK, what's next?" President Bartlet looked at his senior staffers. Nothing else seemed to be on the agenda. He was about to dismiss them when CJ took a deep breath.
"Actually…" she stopped, and tried again. "I have a thing. An announcement."
Leo and the President narrowed their eyes, misinterpreting her nervousness.

"Whatever it is, I won't accept your resignation," said Bartlet curtly. CJ looked stunned.
"Sir, I wasn't about to resign!"
"Good. Now you really have my attention. Go on."

CJ took a deep breath and looked at Toby. He smiled thinly at her and nodded. She bit her lower lip and her words rushed out. "Simon and I are hoping to become parents to an adopted baby in November. The birthmother lives in Arizona."

A stunned silence greeted her announcement, broken by the President's jubilant voice. "CJ, that's great! Why didn't you tell us sooner?"
"It seems to be a question I get a lot lately," she sighed, looking at Toby.
Jed Bartlet snickered. "It's what happens when you hide things from your friends and family."

CJ smiled tentatively, appreciatively. Then she went on. "Things may be hectic for me for a while…and we'd have to stay in Arizona for several days after the baby is born…"
"Do you know the sex?" Oddly, it was Josh's enthusiastic voice that cut in. CJ would have figured him to be the last person to ask this question. She had to smile.

"No, Simon and I are doing it the old-fashioned way – we're going to be surprised."

Josh looked disappointed. CJ laughed. "Listen, mi amore, being Simon's child I have no doubt this kid will be into baseball, whether it's a boy or a girl."
Josh grinned back at her. "Cool!"
She shook her head as Leo muttered "Kids!" referring, she knew, to Josh's behavior and not the subject in general.

Will looked at her and asked pointedly, "Are you planning to make any announcements to the press?"

She shook her head. "I'm hoping to keep it under wraps until we come home with the baby. So much can happen between now and then, and she can still change her mind – up to 72 hours after the baby is born." CJ bit her lip again and fought the now-familiar panic that always accompanied that thought. To her, the baby was so real, and already theirs – hers and Simon. She couldn't bear the thought of losing it, though in reality she knew she had no guarantees of ending up parenting this child.

The President nodded. "We'll do our best to keep a secret in this little town. And if there's anything you need, don't hesitate to ask." He smirked. "Oh and…I'm sure Abbey would like to share her parenting wisdom with the two of you, so let's make sure we get you and Simon in for dinner at the residence soon."
"Will there be trivia involved, Sir?"

"I will be in the room, yes."

CJ sighed inwardly. Toby spoke up. "How come I was never invited when Andi was pregnant?"
Jed Bartlet smiled thinly at his Communication Director. "Because you broke the news to us while my wife and I were attempting to sneak some quality private time together."
Toby swallowed. "Yes Sir."

"Anything else?" asked Leo. "No? OK, let's get to work then."