Deputy Press Secretary Simon Glazer walked briskly up to the lectern and looked out at the sea of faces in the Press Room.

"Good morning. CJ Cregg is out of town for personnel reasons. I'd like to start this briefing with the President's comments on Senator Sorkin's surprise resignation last night…"

October 24, 2003

CJ and Simon spoke very little on the flight to Arizona. Mostly they just held, or gripped, each other's hands, each lost in his or her thoughts, hopes, and fears.

The call came that morning, as they were getting ready for work. Though Lisa, the borthmom, wasn't due for two more weeks, they all knew the due date was fluid, give or take two weeks. But CJ and Simon really didn't think the baby would come early. Kari, Lisa's mom, had told them she'd delivered all three of her kids late. Somehow, CJ and Simon assumed Lisa would do the same.

In the mad scramble to make flight arrangements and pack, CJ gratefully stumbled over the baby-shower gift from the senior assistants. What a lifesaver that turned out to be! Sitting on the plane, she now smiled at the thought of the oversized diaper bag. Trust Debbie Fiderer to find something that looked utterly ridiculous and turned out to be so useful – CJ would have never bought one like it. The senior assistants filled it to bursting with diapers, baby outfits (unisex!), bottles and formula. This morning, CJ snatched the bag with relief. "Guess the girls did some useful packing for us!" she told Simon as they hurried down the stairs. Simon nodded in grateful agreement.

"Oh no!" Simon's groan brought CJ back to the present with a jolt.
"What?" she asked in alarm.
"Do you know what we forgot to bring?"
CJ looked at him nervously. "What?"
"The baby seat. For the car and the plane ride back to DC."

CJ hit him. "Honestly, Simon, you almost gave me a heart attack. We can BUY the darn car seat in Arizona. We need two anyhow, for both cars at home."
He looked at her quizzically. "Is this another example of women being more practical than men?"
She snorted. "Not really. We just enjoy shopping more, and need to find a way to rationalize it."
He barked out a short laugh and squeezed her hand. The plane sped towards Phoenix.

Nine hours later

Lisa was tired. CJ stood beside her, opposite Kari, and wiped the teen's sweaty face. It was finally time, and Lisa wanted CJ and Simon to be there when the actual delivery happened.

The two of them were ever so grateful they made it to the hospital with time to spare. In fact, they had enough time for Simon to wear a hole in the floor, according to CJ.
"I thought all that Secret Service training would come in handy just about now?" she teased.

He growled in response and continued pacing. Now he stood off to one side as Lisa was being prepped. He waited for his cue to come closer, and wished he could make himself useful the way CJ did.

Two hours later, Toby's Office

Bonnie practically launched herself into Toby's office, and literally bounced as she told him, breathlessly, "CJ's on line 1."

She made no move to leave the office as Toby grabbed the phone, and he could see Ginger inching towards his office door. He gave them both his best death glare, which they ignored.
"CJ, talk to me."

She was laughing and crying at the same time, and it was all Toby could do to control his own emotions as his best friend's voice carried from the other end of the line.
"A little girl, Toby. She's beautiful!"
"She's healthy?"
"Oh yeah," CJ laughed. "She's a decent size, too. 7 lbs., 9 oz., and 21 inches long."

Toby smiled, and tried not to get excited, yet.
"When can we officially celebrate?" He asked CJ gently.

She took a deep breath. She wished he didn't touch on that nagging terror in her heart.
"Arizona law gives the birthmom 72 hours to change her mind," she said softly. For her and Simon, the next 72 hours were going to be the longest of their lives.

"Is she staying with the birthmom at the hospital?" Asked Toby, hoping the answer was no.
"No. The hospital gave us a room where we can stay with her. The birth family is fine with that. Also, Lisa signed a document that gives us power of attorney over the baby, so she can be discharged to our care before the 72 hours are up."

A Power of Attorney can be revoked at any time, Toby knew. Moreover, he knew CJ knew as well. At least the gesture was a promising sign.

"Did you name her yet?" CJ and Simon had picked girl and boy names ahead of time, but the weren't telling. Toby hoped he wouldn't have to wait 72 hours for THAT.
"Alexandra Cregg-Donovan."

Toby smiled. "That's a beautiful name, CJ."

"Yeah," she said softly, and he knew she was crying, so he had to do something.

"Did Simon pass out during the delivery?"
She laughed. "Sorry – no. He was great. Wanna talk to him?"

Toby smiled, writing down a brief summary for the two assistants who were now threatening to strangle him with the phone cord.
"Sure. Put him on."

He tore off the piece of paper and gave it to Bonnie. In a minute, she and Ginger were out the door, no doubt on their way to Donna's desk. Or Carol's.

72 hours can seem like an eternity, especially if one can't sleep for most of that time. CJ and Simon took turns napping, but for the most part stayed awake, even when little Alex was sleeping. They kept gazing at her, cuddling her, and softly telling her how loved she was, and how they looked forward to being her mommy and daddy. They had taken the baby to their hotel when she was discharged from the hospital in excellent condition. Simon's mother flew down to Phoenix to be with them during the agonizing wait. She fell in love with the baby as soon as she met her.

With twelve hours to go before Alex became officially their baby, Lisa called and asked to meet with all four of them the next day, when the waiting period was officially over.

They met in Lisa's house, where Lisa and her parents and sisters took turns holding Alex and playing with her. When they all settled down, Kari asked the question her daughter was obviously too nervous to ask.

"Will you tell Alex she is adopted?"

"Absolutely," CJ and Simon answered together, with no hesitation. They have done their homework. They promised Lisa and her family that Alex would hear the word spoken often enough to make it a natural part of her vocabulary, but not so often to make it a burden.

"What if she wants to see me?" Asked Lisa softly, cuddling the sleeping baby.
"When she's 18, if that's her wish, we'll make sure she can find you," CJ answered softly. Simon nodded.

Lisa spoke softly again. "Will you give this to her…when you feel she's ready?" She handed a large envelope to CJ and Simon. Inside they found pictures of Lisa and her family, as well as a picture of Lisa and Ryan, her ex-boyfriend and Alex's birthfather. There was also a sealed envelope addressed to Alex. CJ looked up with tears in her eyes.

"She'll get it, Lisa. I don't know when, but I promise you she will."

Lisa nodded.

On the flight back to DC, CJ and Simon stared at Alex in her care seat in stunned disbelief.

"This is real?" CJ asked softly. She was nearly overcome with emotions. Simon simply nodded mutely, and didn't bother to hide his tears as he touched the baby's cheek for the millionth time.

Across the aisle, Emma Donovan smiled softly. She seemed ten years younger. She was coming to DC with CJ and Simon, as promised. She told them in Arizona that she did not intend to overstay her welcome, but she was definitely going to spend some quality time with her new granddaughter.

"And you'll teach us how to not screw up as parents?" Simon asked at the time, smiling. His mother snorted.

"You'll screw up, son. We all do."

"YOU didn't."

"Selective memory, but flattery will get you anywhere." She kissed her son's cheek lovingly.

Simon turned to her now, almost as if he felt her smile. She returned his gaze lovingly. They didn't need words to communicate. She knew her son's dreams, and the years of heartache. His blue eyes bore deep into her soul and thanked her. Thanked her for the love that sustained him through the bleak times and for being there to share in his happy times. He thanked her for being such a huge help in helping him and CJ realize the dream they carried for so long, separately and together.

The plane flew on to DC, carrying a family home.