Disclaimer: Not mine. Clear? Good.

A/N: Well, yeah, ok, so I'm one of a few people writing for this show. But I write based on shippy moments or ideas, and this one just HAD to happen. Especially with the week before it and the "I've seen you lecture before and trust me, that isn't what she remembered," line. IT WAS GREAT! So, without further ado, my post episode to "Little Black Book". Let the fluff begin!

Ideals Shattered

Natalie watched the TV silently. The look on Donna's face as she stood there, next to her husband, was a little frightening. She'd known this woman for years; she was friends with the Congressman. She'd spent much of that time believing that their marriage was perfect. It was the one she'd held up to herself as a goal for her own life, and she had also thought of it as the perfect political marriage, one that proved that there wasn't an undiscovered sex-scandal hiding behind every candidate.

The man on screen spoke of how hard he knew it was to keep a family together, and reached out to hold his wife's hand. Natalie finally couldn't take it anymore. The betrayal behind Donna's public mask made her feel physically ill. It was worse that she'd had to lie to her. It was never going to be the same. She spun on her heel and left the room, going to collect herself behind one of the many bookshelves.

"Natalie?" Stephen's voice was quiet, hesitant, like he wasn't sure she wanted him there.

"Yeah?"

"Are you alright?" If she hadn't been so upset, Natalie probably would have laughed at that. Was she be alright? Of course not! What did she have to be alright about?

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just…" She trailed off, trying to find the right words.

"This thing with the call-girl got to you?" He sat down on a stool usually used for reaching books on high shelves.

Natalie put on hand on her forehead. "That was the relationship I always thought would last. I was proud that I knew the one political family untouched by any sort of scandal. I loved talking to Donna because she always seemed so happy. It was this little perfect world that I looked at and used as a goal of what I wanted to achieve at some point." She sighed. "It's not really that just a big deal, lots of men cheat. It's just that my idea of what I wanted my life to be sort of shattered. And now Donna's upset with me because I didn't tell her about that prostitute. I'll be fine, but it's just a little much at the moment." She sank down onto the floor. Sleep, that's what she needed.

Stephen leaned forward and put a hand on her shoulder. "I know it won't make you feel any better, but we weren't allowed to tell anyone."

She smiled weakly. "Yeah, but that doesn't make her feel better. Or me, for that matter. And then the director thought that I'd leaked the PDA to Donna, and she asked me to recuse myself. She thought I couldn't stay impartial."

"Well, that's just ridiculous." He stood up and held out a hand to help her up. "You are great at your job and you will find a good guy in time." He hesitated for a moment, feeling awkward. "Hey, you want to go get something to eat?"

"Sure." She smiled. "Thanks for letting me rant."

"Any time." He put a hand on the small of her back as he led her up the stairs.

A/N: And that is the third story I've posted tonight. This feels very good. Review and make me happy, please!