After a few more weeks of sneaking around and issuing denials to the press, Zoey was fed up. She walked into Josh's office, past Donna, and closed his door and looked at him, her voice on the verge of hysterics. "Josh, I'm sick of it. I'm tired of lying and sneaking around and telling people that no, I don't have a boyfriend and there is no man in my life. I love you and I want to tell the whole damn world and I don't care what happens anymore."

Josh was surprised at her tirade, however he was pleased. He had been waiting for this day and now that it had finally arrived, he couldn't wait to go through with it. Rising from

his desk, Josh crossed the rooms and took her into his arms, rubbing her back gently, his voice soothing, "Are you sure?"

Zoey nodded as tears welled in her eyes. "Yes. It hurts so bad when I have to lie about you."

He held her tight and drew a deep breath. Finally, they both where ready to be a normal couple, it had only taken them five years to reach this point. He pulled away from her and lovingly brushed the tears off of her cheeks and then chastely kissed her, asking, "Are you ready to tell your parents?"

Zoey took a big breath and nodded, her voice was a whisper that was full of nerves. "Yes."

"How about now? I've got a meeting with your Dad in five minutes, we could go in together. Or do you want to do it tonight, at the Residence, with both your parents?"

"I want to do it when they are both together."

He nodded, that seemed to make more sense. No point in either of them doing this twice. "Okay, I'll do it tonight. Do you want to tell them? Or should I?"

Zoey stood there for a moment, withdrawing herself from his arms and began to pace the interior of his office, lost in thought. She took a deep breath and turned to face him, softly, "I think I better do this alone. But can you be in your office? So I can call you in case I need you?"

Josh looked at his lover's agitation. He thought he should be there with her, but she knew her parents better than he. "Of course, Zoey. I'll always be here for you. Are you sure you want to do this alone?"

Zoey nodded as she crossed the room to him... God, how much she loved him... she reached up and touched his jaw, softly, "Yeah. Besides... I want to know that you are safe in the confines of your office." She gave him a small smile.

He chuckled, "Protecting me from the wrath of your father?"

She laughed softly. "Remember, Josh, this is the same man who wanted to lock me in a dungeon till I was 40 when I started to date Charlie."

"Yeah, I know. So, if I don't hear from you tonight, I should check the White House basement?"

Zoey laughed softly. "Yeah."

"Okay." He moved towards her, intending to kiss her, when the door abruptly opened. Donna stood there, in shock, staring at them in each other's arms. "Josh, your meeting with the President."

Zoey looked at Donna's shocked face, her eyes trailed over to Josh who looked somewhat sheepish. Quickly kissing his cheek, Zoey gave him a soft smile and walked out of his office, giving Donna a small smile as well.

Donna looked to Josh, shock turning to dismay as Josh's eyes followed Zoey as she walked away, waving at the staff, a skip to her step. She cleared her throat to get his attention. He broke off his reverie, turned to look at Donna. He picked up his folder, and shrugged his shoulders as he left his office.

Donna watched him go and sighed to herself as she walked back to her desk, muttering quietly to herself, "Oh Joshua... I sure hope you know what you are getting yourselves in to."

Heading to the Oval Office, Josh stopped a second to refill his coffee cup, smiling at the pretty young aide who was new, hired to help out Sam while human resources still worked hard to find a replacement for Cathy. Normally, Josh would combine the smile with some harmless flirting, but he knew what that would do to Zoey if she ever found out. Giving her a pat on the shoulder and a well deserved "Keep up the good work," Josh made his way to the office of the President.

Reaching the outer office, Josh looked forlornly at Mrs. Landingham's old desk and sighed softly. Even though the beloved secretary had since been replaced by Debbie, Josh still couldn't help but miss Mrs. Landingham's, or, as she was affectionately called, "Mrs. L's" witty remarks. Josh loved to get her to feel sorry for him and just as she was getting ready to offer him one of her infamous cookies, Josh would make a smart-assed remark that would result in a "Oh, Josh, and I was just getting ready to offer you a cookie" remark from Mrs. Landingham.

Once Debbie had moved into Mrs. L's desk, everybody found it fitting to keep her jar on the filing cabinets as a symbol of their undying love and affection for a woman who had become a staple of the Oval Office.

Josh smiled softly as he saw Debbie coming in from the Oval Office. "He's ready for you, Josh, go right in."

Josh gave her a nod and smiled. "Thanks, Debbie, have a nice day."

Hearing someone enter, the President glanced up as Josh walked into the Oval Office. In his hands, the President had a manilla folder containing paperwork and maps of the Catskill mountains in New York, the look on his face told Josh that the President wasn't planning a trip to the locale.

"Josh, what in the hell is this crap about tearing down the forests in the Catskills and building strip malls?"

Josh sighed internally thinking, great the President was going to hate him for this. "Sir, this is part of the Economic Development Initiative, to redevelop depressed areas and provide the infrastructure for development of jobs in the tourism industry in economically distraught rural regions."

The President jumped up out of his chair, anger in his voice. Gesturing to the paperwork in his hand, he said, "The Catskill mountains are not an economically distraught rural region, Josh! They are a landmark of this country! You tell the Secretary of Agriculture that the day the Catskill mountains are destroyed to put in a STRIP MALL is the day that I march my ass up the steps of Capitol Hill and HAND DELIVER my resignation!"

Josh let his sigh out this time, he became frustrated when his opinions conflicted with those of the President. Josh was all for preserving nature and America's spots of beauty, however, he was more for getting every American a job.

"Sir, I don't think that would be wise. As you know, the tourism industry has been reeling lately, and the Catskills have been particularly hard hit. The infrastructure has been neglected and the area no longer provides the attractions which people want these days. They want water slides, theme parks, fantasy hotels." He opened his folder to find the figures Donna had prepared, "The unemployment rate has soared..."

The President put his hand on Josh's arm. "Josh, do you mean to tell me that people don't want to go to a gorgeous mountain resort anymore? Because if that's the case, than explain to me why Big Cedar Lodge in Missouri is doing so well. Why, when Big Cedar is NOT theme park, that does NOT have water slides or fantasy hotels, but coordinates their activities around fishing, boating and nature is bringing in millions of dollars every year."

"Sir, I've never heard of Bid Cedar Lodge, nor have the Americans outside of Missouri and Arkansas. Granted a few people from Hollywood may have stumbled across it a time or two, but most of this country has no idea what Big Cedar is. Sir, do the names Disney World, Disneyland, Seaworld, Universal Studios and Magic Mountain mean anything to you? Most people have heard of them. People travel around the country to get to them. They spend lots of money promoting tourism, support the airlines, bring employment to rural areas with unskilled, uneducated workers. That's what the Catskills want. Theme Parks, Water Parks, Casinos. People can go anywhere and fish or stare at a tree."

Jed glares at him. "I'm vetoing the bill, Josh. I won't allow it to pass. If another President wants to do it after I'm dead, than he can. But I won't do it. You people are too damn spoiled. Mickey Mouse and Shamu have spoiled your generation and the generations after that, Josh. You need to go back to the basics."

Josh couldn't help but smirk. "I personally feel no attraction to mice or sharks, sir. Although I wouldn't mind attending a baseball fantasy camp."

"Refer to my previous statement about being spoiled then."

Spoiled? Let this fly, Josh, he told himself. Keep to the politics.

"Sir, if you veto this bill, you'll be overridden. And that will cost you the political capital we've acquired, painstakingly acquired, I might add, to get the necessary votes behind your Dairy Compact. And you know my opinion about the wisdom of that bill, Sir. You need to face the realities of the political world."

Jed turned around and looked at the younger man. "First off, Josh, your knowledge, or lack thereof, of politics astounds me. Because if you knew anything at all about politics, you'd know that the President has the final say in a bill. Not Congress. They'd never get an override on this. The House and the Senate may move to pass this bill, but it's resting place will be on my desk. The rainforests of Africa are being destroyed on a daily basis. Rainforests, Josh, are trees. Trees provide suitable breathing air. You are a young man, Josh. Someday, you will fall in love with a woman, marry her, and have children. Don't you want your children to have a substantial amount of quality breathing air? If we cut down the forests of the Catskill mountains, then we take away their chances of having clean air to breathe. If you take away the clean air, what will they breathe? What kind of legacy do you want to leave your children, Josh? I hope to God that somewhere in the list is clean air."

Josh stopped breathing, he could feel his face turn crimson at the mention of children. God - Did he know?

"Of course, I want the best for my children, Sir." He squeaked. Your grandchildren, he thought. Oh. My. God. Children.

Jed's head was lowered as he browsed the contents of the bill, the thorn that was in the sides of both him and Josh. "Good. Than it's settled. I'll veto this." He glanced up at him and removed his glasses.

"Is there anything else, Josh?"

Josh's mind was still stuck on the thought of children, he hadn't heard the President's last comment "Yes, Sir, I mean, no, Sir." He stood there, suddenly aware that the President was examining him as he floundered.

Jed looked at Josh with concern. He walked over and placed a hand against Josh's forehead to feel for fever. "You okay, son?"

Son? He does know? Josh looked at the President's concerned countenance. Should he say something now, or wait for Zoey to tonight? He wavered, staring at the President as his mind raced.

Jed gave him a soft laugh. "Do I have egg on my face?" Just then Debbie came in informing him of his meeting with Fitz and McNally. Jed gave Josh a pat on the back as he walked out.

Josh stared as the President left. God, is this what love does to a man? Leaves him a blithering idiot in front of his boss? Josh realized he just trashed six months of hard work on an important bill, because of his love life. He shook his head. He needed to get a grip on himself and track Zoey down, to see what she was going to say tonight.

Zoey sat in the rose garden, lost in thought. How does she tell her parents that she has been involved with a man who works so closely with her father for almost five years? How does she explain why they kept their relationship hidden? How does she explain the pregnancy scare? The real reason that she went to Europe? She sighed deeply, already feeling a headache coming on.

Josh stepped outside and strode to the rose garden. He watched her sitting on the stone bench in the garden, surrounded by a breed of flower whose beauty doesn't even begin to compare with hers. Approaching her slowly, he placed a hand on her shoulder, his thumb caressing her neck lovingly, "Penny for your thoughts, honey."

She smiled softly as she heard his voice and felt his touch. Scooting over to make some room for him, Zoey smiled up at him. Josh eased himself down next to her, his hand finding hers.

Caressing the top of his hand with her thumb, she looked at him, her voice was quiet, "How did the meeting with my dad go?"

He looked at her ruefully, creases of worry scarring his forehead, "I made a complete ass of myself."

Zoey looked at him, her eyes searching his face. "What happened, Josh?"

He sighed softly and shrugged a little, "We were debating the Catskills bill, you know, the one I told you would be a hard sale, but I think I could win him over? " She nodded, she knew how hard he at worked on it.

"Well, I almost had him, then he threw me a curve ball. He asked me what kind of a legacy I wanted to leave my children."

She sighed deeply, bringing his hand up to her lips and brushing t hem across his knuckles, softly, "Oh Josh..."

"I thought he knew, I was trying to figure out if he knew. But then, Zoey, the oddest thing happened. The vision thing. Whenever I work on these bills, these issues, I'm thinking about the budget and the dollars and the votes and the constituents, the nitty-gritty. I never think about the vision thing. He asked me what legacy I wanted to leave my children, and my first thought was, my children will be your grandchildren. But then I saw it, what we do is not just getting the votes, its taking care of the future." He looked into her deep blue eyes, so much like her father's, "I saw what I first saw when I met him, and I finally got it."

Zoey caught her breath as she listened to him talk about their future children. If he only knew how many nights she dreamt about giving him children, how she knew deep in the depths of her heart what an amazing father he'd be. She felt a lump form in her throat as she gave him a smile, her eyes bright with unshed tears, whispering, "What did you get, Josh?"

"What it takes to be a leader, and why your father is so good at it." He gave her a self-deprecating grin, "And why I'm not."

"Josh..." Zoey slid off the bench and kneeled in front of him... fortunately the ground was dry. She took his hands in hers. "You are an amazing leader, Josh. You ran the first campaign, the second campaign, you won the presidency for Dad. You run the White House, you push through legislation. People look up to you, Josh. I look up at you," she paused, watching his face carefully, "I've seen when Donna books a group of kids to come in for a tour and you give them a tour of the White House... those kids look up at you with such awe and admiration... their eyes grow so wide, Josh."

He gave her a half smile, "Really?" She looked so earnest, he truly believed it. Maybe he does have it, he just never thought of it in these terms. He pulled her to his lap, "You think I've got it?"

Zoey smiled softly as she nuzzled his neck, softly, "I know you have it."

The two lovers sat in silence on the bench. Zoey loved being in his lap, she felt so safe and secure, like she just knew that no matter what was thrown at them, he would always protect her from the evils of the world.

From the Jean-Pauls of the world, the Danny Concannons... the reporters who had nothing better to do than write scathing, untrue articles about them.

As they sat there, her head against his shoulder and his hand running up and down the length of her thigh, neither of them saw or heard someone come up behind them.

"I want to know just what in the hell is going on here."

Zoey jumped out of Josh's lap and looked into the eyes of a very angry Leo. Her heart was pounding a mile a minute, but no matter how nervous or scared she was, Josh was one hundred times more scared and nervous. Hiding his nervousness, Josh rose to his full height, wrapped his arm around Zoey, and looked at Leo, pointedly, "We're talking, Leo."

"You're talking? That's why she was in your lap?" Leo looked directly at Zoey. "I assume your parents don't know?"

Zoey shook her head, softly, "I'm telling them tonight."

Leo sighed deeply and then glared at Josh. "I want your ass in my office in two minutes or else I will have Donna search for an immediate replacement." That said, Leo left and Zoey sat down on the bench, whispering, "I'm sorry, Josh."

He sat down next to her, "It's all right Zoey, he was going to find out tomorrow anyway. Are you ready to talk to your parents? Do you want me to come with you?"

"No..." She sighed. "You talk to Leo, I'll talk to my parents now. Good luck." She kissed him softly, but quickly as she stood up and looked at him, "I love you, Josh." Gazing at him a moment longer, Zoey turned and walked her way back into the White House, and, ultimately, into the den of hungry, blood-thirsty lions.

Josh watched her determined walk. She looked so unafraid, so ambitious, like she knew exactly what she wanted in this world and exactly how to get it. He smiled at her retreating form with pride, knowing deep in his heart that she was definitely the one. Taking a deep breath, Josh turned back to Leo's office, time to pay the piper.

Josh entered Leo's office, carefully shutting the door on Margaret. He knew that Zoey had better hurry and tell her parents before Radio Free Margaret broadcasts the news throughout the White House and eventually the District. Shaking his head, Josh was sure that Margaret was listening and only hoped that Leo would know this too and put an end to it. Turning towards the Chief of Staff, Josh prepared himself for what was known as... The Wrath of Leo McGarry.

Zoey walked to the Residence of the White House, her head held high. She was already determined not to allow her parents–or anybody else for that matter–make her feel an ounce of guilt or shame for loving Josh. Deep in the depths of her heart and soul, Zoey knew that whatever happened, she and Josh would make it okay. After all, look at all they have already survived... a pregnancy scare, Amy Gardner, Jean-Paul, the press... She knew that she and Josh would owe CJ massive apologies for having her, unknowingly, lie to the press about them. She only hoped that eventually, CJ would grow to forgive them and understand their reasons.

As she made her way up to the Residence, it occurred to Zoey that it was the steepest, longest set of stairs she had ever walked in her life. She saw her parents taking a short break in the living room, talking and laughing. She cleared her throat softly. "Um, mom, dad, can talk to you guys for a minute?"

Leo turned and angrily looked at his deputy. "Just a minute." He walked over and gave his door a hard pound with his fist, a muffled "Ow, dammit" could be heard on the other side.

"Get to work, Margaret!" He sighed as he walked over and sat down behind his desk and stared at the man he has grown to love as a son. "You want to tell me what I saw outside?"

"Of course, Darling, we always have time for you." Abbey beamed at her daughter. She was proud of her, she is finally settling down and getting on with her life. Whatever had sent her scurrying to Europe seemed to be over with.

Jed patted the sofa next to him. "Come sit down, what's on your mind Baby?"

Josh sat down in the guest chair, and looked Leo in the eyes, explaining in a calm voice. "Zoey and I were merely talking."

Zoey gingerly sat down in the chair across her parents. She didn't want to be in arm's reach of them. She took a deep breath and began.

"Before I say anything, I want you both to promise me that you will not flip out and you will not send the other person involved out to be shot."

Jed sighed. "Oh, boy,"

"Talking? With her in your lap? Josh you two could have been making out for all I know. What the hell has gotten into you? Why have you been hanging around a 24 year old woman all the sudden? A woman who, by the way, is the youngest daughter of the President and First Lady of the United States, two people whom I owe my life to."

Abbey glanced at Jed, then at her daughter. She strategically placed herself between the two. "Yes, dear, your father will behave himself."

Josh chose to ignore Leo's pointed comments, he was determined to simply say his piece and be done with it. If Leo wanted to fire him, so be it.

"We were talking about our future."

Zoey watched her parents carefully, "For the last five years, I've been involved in a romantic affair with Josh Lyman. I love him and he loves me. That's why I went to Europe. Because I felt too confused and scared about what was going on, I couldn't deal with it, so I left. I came back, he and I worked things out, and we are together."

Zoey looked at Jed's bulging eyes and figured she best get everything out on the table. "Two years ago, he and I had unprotected sex and I thought that I had gotten pregnant. That's why I was asking mom all those pregnancy questions."

Jed looked at his youngest daughter in shock. He stood up and started to head out the door, Zoey stood up, "Dad? Where are you going?"

Jed turned and looked at her, his voice calm, quiet, yet very angry. "I'm going to go kill Josh and then I'm going to send you to a convent on the other side of this planet."

"Talking about your future? Josh, why in the hell would you..." He trailed off as it dawned on him, softly, "You are sleeping with her."

"Josiah Bartlet. Sit down right now. We will have a calm, rationale family discussion."

Abbey ordered her husband in an empirical voice, and he obediently sat down. Abbey turned to her youngest daughter, "Are you out of your mind?"

Josh answered, "Yes, we've been together since the re-election campaign. We were discussing our children."

"Oh my God, Josh, is she pregnant?"

"No, Mom. I'm not. Mom..." She sighed as she took a moment to collect her thoughts, speaking softly, "I know about everything you going to say. I know about the age gap, I know that he's worked for dad closely for almost eight years, I know all of that mom, but I also know that I love him. I know that when something good happens, I can't wait to tell him, and when something bad happens the only thing I want in the world is for him to hold me and tell me that everything is going to be okay." She looked at her parents, "If you two have any hope for my happiness at all, than you'd support this. I'm not asking that you agree with it, but I am asking that you support it."

Abbey looked at her youngest, softly, "You really do love him."

Zoey nodded as tears pooled in her eyes, whispering, "With every breath in my body."

Josh blinked rapidly. "Pregnant? Zoey? God no, Leo. For crying out loud, have a little confidence in me. I do know about condoms."

Leo covered his ears, "Too much information, Josh."

Jed sat quietly, stunned as he listened to his baby declare her love for a man he sometimes calls Idiot Boy. "Zoey, Joshua Lyman?" No, no, anyone but him.

Josh stared at Leo in disbelief, this conversation had taken an odd turn. He

needed to get it back on track and lay it all out.

"Leo, I love her. She's the one. Dad always told me that when the right one came along, I would know, there would be no questions, my heart would tell me. She's the one, I want to spend my life with her."

Leo just stared at him in shock.

"So, do you want my resignation in writing?"

"Dad," Zoey crossed the room to him, softly, "I know that it puts you in an awkward position, and we are sorry, but I think I can speak for Josh on this when I tell you that we will not screw up. We will be just as discrete as we are now, Dad. The only difference is that when I go to public events with him, I'll be going as his girlfriend. Not as some girl who he happened to have asked."

Leo sighed softly, "Josh, that's not for me to decide. I won't order your resignation, but what the President decides goes. Understand?"

Jed was pale, "Josh Lyman's girlfriend?" He stood and started pacing, "My daughter is 'Lyman's Latest'? God, Zoey, look at what happened when you went out with him before, to the French debacle. My God, girl, you let C.J. stand on that podium and deny everything. Josh stated you just tagged along that night, and that photo, you remember the one, young lady, it was on the front page of every newspaper in the world, in color I might add, that that was just a peck on the cheek between old friends."

He paused in his tirade as what she had said hit home, "My God, you slept with him that night! You stayed at his apartment, I hope you're not sleeping with him under my roof. There's got to be a law against that! If not, I'll order one. Abbey, how could you let this happen?"

"Understood Leo. But I'm not asking him, I'm asking you. Do you think I can be objective? Do you think I can perform my duties without being shown derision or favoritism? Do you want me to stay on as your Deputy?"

Abbey stood up and put a calming hand on her husband's back, softly, "Jed..." Zoey flinched when she heard her father refer to her as "Lyman's latest". She looked her father in the eye, her voice quiet as she fought the tears. "Yes, Dad. I am 'Lyman's latest' as you put it. And I am -damn- proud of that. I love him. And he loves me and if the day ever comes where he asks me to marry him, I will. And I will give him the children that we so desperately want and deserve. And if grandpa had ever referred to mom as 'Bartlet's latest' than you would have had a fit. And it is so nice to know, Daddy dearest, that I can come to you when I'm happy, sad, scared, confused, or, as in this case, elated." Zoey glared at her father a moment longer before walking out of the room.

Abbey sighed as she softly pinched the bridge of her nose, softly, "Jed, go talk to her."

"Josh, what did I tell you after you were shot and you were having those flashbacks? As long as I have a job, you have a job. And you are the only one who can tell if you'll be objective or not."

"Talk to her? I should talk to her? She wants to marry him! She wants to marry a man twice her age, who is old enough to be her father, she wants children with a man who hasn't grown up yet? And I should talk to her? Abbey - did you hear her? She's been screwing him for five years. Five years! And every day he is in my office, at my side, and he never said a word. Did you hear her? She said he is proud to be Lyman's Latest - She is proud that she is his latest whore?"

Jed's voice escalated to the point of shouting, when a sudden sting hit has face. Abbey stood before him, her hand suspended in the air. She looked at him, eyes blazing yet pooling up, "Take that back, Jed Bartlet, take that back. That is your daughter you are talking about."

Jed responded, "Abigail, I don't know what to do here. I will, till the day I die, regret what I just said about our daughter, and I apologize to you for saying it, and, once I calm down, I will apologize to her. But, damn it, woman, what are we going to do? And yes, Abbey, I know that I'm acting just the way your father did when you told him that we were going to get married, but now I know how he feels, and while I will never ever regret marrying you, I cannot help but feel as lost and confused as he was back then." He sighed softly, his voice quiet, "However, your father never would have called you what I called, Zoey, I know that, Abbey."

"Well Jed, as you damn well know, he could have. But he had the grace and compassion not to." She glared at him. "Go find your daughter and talk to her."

"Leo, I can, I have for the past five years. But maybe the time has come for me to move on. Not just here, with my life." Josh looked Leo in the eye. "She is the one, Leo, I'm going to marry her."

"Where is she now?"

"Telling them."

"Go find her, stand beside her. Josh, do the right thing."

Zoey walked to her bedroom and closed the door and the collapsed on her bed in tears. Her father thought of her as a whore. And all because of her love for one man.

Josh nodded softly, "Yeah. Thanks, Leo."

Jed sighed softly as he roamed the halls of the Residence toward the bedroom of his youngest daughter. He briefly wondered if Zoey had brought Josh up there and then felt a knot forming in his stomach and quickly pushed those thoughts out of his mind. Sighing softly as he brought a hand up and gently knocked on the door, "Zoey, baby? Are you all right?" Jed called through the door, his heart breaking as he heard her sobs.

"Go Away!"

Jed sighed softly, his youngest could be a stubborn pain in the ass... like father, like daughter. "Zoey, open the door."

"Why, so you can yell at me some more? Go away."

Jed stared at the door, debating whether to try again or not. Sighing, he slowly turned away, only to find himself face to face with Josh. Jed glared at the man before him. It took everything in his power not to clock him, softly, "You have a lot of nerve showing your face right now."

Josh nodded, softly, "I'd like to speak with you and Mrs. Bartlet, Sir."

The President clenched his hands at his sides, he was in no mood to deal with this now, though he knew that sooner or later, he'd have to. "Damn it, Josh, get the hell out of here." Jed shouted, "I don't want you in my home." With a quiet, deadly intensity he added, "I don't want you near my daughter."

Zoey opened the door quietly in time to hear Jed's final statement, softly, "The daughter you called a whore? You know something... – Mr. President-... the thought of staying someplace where I won't get called a whore or be judged for who I love is quite appealing right now."

She looked at Josh and gave him a look that said that she'd be waiting in his office for him and then left.

Josh didn't watch her, but he could see Jed's eyes follow Zoey's back.

"Sir, could I have a moment with you and Mrs. Bartlet?"

Jed narrowed his eyes at him. "Josh, what can you possibly say to my wife and I?"

"I wanted to tell you of my intentions towards your daughter, Sir." The words were respectful, but Josh's steely tone conveyed his anger towards Jed, and the manner in which he treated his daughter.

Jed sighed and shook his head. "Not tonight, Lyman." He started to walk towards the study.

Josh was right at his heals, "Sir, I believe now is the appropriate time, please hear me out."

Jed turned around and looked at him. "Five minutes."

"Thank you, sir." He followed the President into the sitting room, where Abbey was sitting, apprehension on her face when she saw Josh follow her furious husband into the room. She looked behind Josh, there was no sign of Zoey. "Jed?"

Jed sighed and shook his head. "She took off. Don't worry, if she had gone off grounds, her agents would have told me."

Josh spoke up, "She's in my office, Sir."

Jed whipped around to look at Josh. "How do you know that?"

Josh shrugged his shoulders. "I know your daughter. I know her better than you do."

Jed clenched his fists at his side again and walked over and got into Josh's face. "You self-righteous, snot nosed little bastard. Zoey was a good girl before she got mixed up with you! You are a playboy, Josh, you play girls' emotions and you treat them like cheap objects! You will not do that to my daughter! I forbid it!"

"Spoiled, sir." Josh stated flatly.

"What?" Jed responded incredulously.

"You forgot spoiled. This afternoon, you told me I was self-centered and spoiled. That I didn't care about preserving our nation's heritage for my children. And I realized you were right, Sir. I wasn't thinking of my children, your Grandchildren."

Jed stopped and looked at him, softly, "I will die before I will allow you to have any further relationship with Zoey, and if she chooses to defy me in this, than I will disown her."

Jed furiously walked out of the room as Abbey stood up, a horrified look on her face, calling out to him, "Josiah Bartlet, you get your ass back in here!"

They could hear his footsteps down the hallway. Abbey turned to Josh, "Welcome to the family, get Zoey out of here." She left an astonished Josh standing alone as she scurried down the hallway.

Jed walked into the bedroom and ripped his tie off, he saw a picture of Zoey and himself and picked it up and threw it against the wall, watching as the glass shattered.

Zoey patiently and quietly waited in Josh's office, her petite body curled up on his couch. She sighed quietly, the soft sound of footsteps approaching the office.

Josh quietly entered his office and carefully closed the door behind him. "Zoey, that did not go well." He ran his hands though his hair, and then dropped his head back and stared at the ceiling quietly.

She nodded, pain in her voice, whispering, "I know."

He looked at her and gave her a wry smile. "Your mother welcomed me to the family, but I think your father disowned you. That is, if you stay with me."

Zoey closed her eyes, a tear falling, she nodded mutely. Josh sighed softly as he knelt before her and wiped the tear with his thumb. "He just needs some time to cool down. Your Mom told me to get you out of here, but I don't think it would be wise for you to come home with me. Do you want to stay with Ellie tonight? You two could talk? I'll drive you to Baltimore." She shook her head and sat up, her arms wrapping around him, burying her face into the crook of his neck, quietly sobbing.

He slowly pulled her onto his lap, caressing her hair, "Oh, Zoey, Zoey", he crooned to her as he rocked her gently, "I'm sorry, I should have left when you did, I thought I could talk to him, but I let my damn mouth run away. Shhh, it'll be all right, honey." He rocked her as he murmured to her, his mind racing as to what to do next.

"I don't know what to do, Josh, I don't know what to do," she sobbed. "I am torn between you and my father."

"I'm sorry I got you into this mess. He'll come around, he just needs some time."

There was a gentle knock on the door, then it opened to reveal a tear-streaked Abbey, carrying a bag. She handed Josh the bag, and gathered her daughter into her arms causing Zoey only to cry harder, "Mom, I'm so sorry, I don't know what to do now."

"Shhh, its all right baby. Its all right." She looked over Zoey's shoulder, at Josh. She could see his concern for her daughter, and made a snap decision. "Zoey, all you did was fall in love. It happens to the best of us. Your father knew this day would eventually come, he was just surprised that it was today."

"Oh, mom..." Zoey stepped back and sighed as she looked at her mother, softly, "He called me a whore, mama."

"That's just because he's upset, that doesn't make it right, but that's why he did it. Oh, honey, he's going to regret those words once he regains control."

Zoey nodded, unconvinced, she took a deep breath and looked at her mother, softly, "Mom, I'm going to go and spend the night at Josh's tonight. There isn't anywhere else I'd rather be and anyone else I'd rather be with. I love him, mom, and I'm not ashamed of it."

Abbey looked at her troubled daughter, nodding, "Yes, honey. that's why I brought your bag." She looked at Josh, and smiled, "You know, I've always had a feeling about you two, I've seen this coming for years. I just didn't realize you two were already together." She stepped forward and hugged Josh, "As I stated before, welcome to the family, Josh." She let go and stepped back, "Take her home with you tonight. And Josh, be on time tomorrow morning for the staff meeting, I'll take care of Jed."

Zoey watched her mother and the man that she loved, grateful that at least one of her parents understood. Josh nodded and kissed the first lady's cheek, whispering, "Thank you, Mrs. Bartlet."

"Call me Abbey. Now take her home, we'll iron this out." She smiled at them as she paused at the door, "Zoey, sleep in tomorrow, call me when you wake up. I love you both."

Josh picked up Zoey's bag, and glanced at his briefcase. He wouldn't be working tonight. He wrapped his free arm around her waist and gave her a squeeze and a kiss. "Come on, let's go to our place."

She nodded and grabbed her bag, kissing her mother's cheek one last time. "Let's go."

Exiting the room, Zoey and Josh walked hand in hand out of the White House, followed by Zoey's ever present agents. As they walked to Josh's car, they heard a shout, and turned to see Leo hurry after them. Zoey turned around and looked at him, she immediately placed a hand on his arm to steady him. "Leo, what's wrong?"

"Josh, I came to tell you, I'm ordering you to take a few days off."

Josh swallowed hard, softly, "Leo, did he fire me?"

Leo shook his head no, softly, "No, but he's very upset, understandably, and CJ and Toby know now and CJ's about to bite your heads off. Just take a few days off, take Zoey some place for a few days, collect your thoughts and give him the space to do the same."

Zoey looked at Leo, softly, "Leo, please watch over him. I don't want an attack to come out of this."

Leo smiled at his god-daughter. "I will, he'll get over it. Go, relax, have fun, enjoy some time alone, C.J. will hold off the press for a few days." He opened the door for Zoey and shut it after she climbed in.

His smile froze on his face as he looked over the top of the car at Josh. "Take care of her, and if you ever harm her, in any way, Jed is going to have wait in line behind me to skin you alive."

Josh nodded, his voice sincere, "Thank you, Leo."

As they drove off, neither one noticed the figure on the second floor porch of the residence, wet eyes watching his pride and joy leaving him.