Author Note: And so it continues… thanks for the reviews, friends. It really motivates me, trust me.

xxxxx

"Now, we need to make some serious decisions," CJ addressed the small gathering of my campaign staff.

I never planned it to go this way.

Never.

Sam was supposed to run and I was supposed to run his campaign, guide him to the White House and then be his chief of staff.

But Sam's dead.

And in a few years time, I will be too. Or months. Or weeks. Or days…

"Mr. Lyman?"

I turned my attention to the young man across the table from Donna. Mark Walters. CJ has him pegged for Press Secretary.

"Yeah, Mark?"

"What's your decision?"

Ah, the question of the hour.

"I think that's what we're deciding tonight, actually," I grinned.

Mark nodded, but I could tell he wasn't done.

"With all due respect, sir, that's not exactly what I was asking," he swallowed nervously. "I wanted to know if you're dying like they say you are. And if you are dying, how, if you can, could you justify running for President?"

xxxxx

Now, I haven't been around this kid for more than maybe five hours, but I hate him.

He's the first one to say those words out loud with Josh in the room. How dare he? Who does he think he is?

My Joshua is not dying.

As sure as my name is Donnatella Moss, he is not dying.

pause

As sure as my name is Donnatella Yates, Joshua Lyman is not dying.

I won't let him.

xxxxx

Uncle Josh called last night. He has brain cancer. It's terminal. And he's running for President.

My husband, Steven, answered the phone. I was in the study finishing up an article that was due this morning at 9. I'm a freelance editorialist for Good Housekeeping. I had always planned to be editor or something, but since I got married, freelancing suits me just fine.

I remember that I had just written the sentence, "But only when politicians truly let every skeleton out of their closet and be completely truthful with the citizens of the United States will we ever have a pure democracy."

"Megs, it's me."

"Hey, Uncle Josh! How are you?

"Are you busy? I have something pretty important to tell you."

Steven returns to his newspaper and I make my way into the bedroom. "I was just finishing up my article, but I'm ready for a break."

"Maeghan, I have brain cancer."

My world stopped spinning at that moment. I sunk down on the bed and began to let the tears roll down my face.

"It's terminal. They're going to try to remove the tumor, but it doesn't look to promising."

"Ok," I whispered. "How are you?"

"I'm pissed as hell, but I'm hanging in there. Thanks for asking."

"Are you just going to let your term run out or are you going to resign?"

He laughed. The insufferable man laughed at me. "Everyone seems to think that this means I'm going to act like I'm dead. Everything proceeding as planned."

My jaw dropped, "You're running for President?"

"Yeah. You still going to help?"

I wasn't quite sure how to respond. "Uncle Josh, with all due respect, do you honestly think that the people of this country will elect a man who's dying?"

He sighed a deep sigh. A sigh I know he has sighed before. "Meg, we're all dying. I know that that's a cliché answer, but it's true. I want to run for President. It's the next logical step for me. I believe that I'll serve this country well for as long as I'm physically able to. And I'm going to have one hell of a Vice President to take over for me when I'm gone."

"Who?"

"Aunt CJ."

My head was spinning. "Uncle Josh, Aunt CJ has never been elected to anything before in her life! She's either been appointed to things or married to someone who was."

"She's been Secretary of State, Co-Ambassador to England, France, Malaysia and China. She was the wife of the Director of the CIA. She has duel doctorates from Oxford and Yale. She's one of my best friends. There's no one better qualified for the job, Megs."

"Ok," I whispered again.

"What are you thinking?"

What am I thinking? I'm thinking this is going to ruin my parent's marriage. But it's not like I'm about to tell Uncle Josh that. So what do I say?

"I just can't believe it."

"Yeah, neither can I."

We sat in silence for a few moments before I finally say, "I'll help."

I could hear the grin he was wearing when he responded, "I'm glad."

"I'll talk to you later," I whisper. "I love you."

"I love you too, Megs."

I quietly replace the receiver and make my way out into the living room. Prying the newspaper from Steven's hands, I curled myself up in his lap and began to wail.

xxxxx

"Meg, do you realize that Mom hasn't been home in two weeks?"

My older sister bit her lip and nodded. Her eyes flickered everywhere around the restaurant before they finally connected with mine. "Has Dad called you?"

"A few times," I sigh. "I just don't know what to tell him anymore."

She paused to take a bite of her salad before continuing, "Do remember the first time Uncle Josh asked Mom to help him again?"

"What was that? 10 years ago?"

She nodded, "About that. I came home from work that night and walked into a war zone. It was horrible."

"It happens every time he asks."

"Yeah."

"You'd think she'd learn just to tell him no and not even bring it up."

"I think the problem is that she wants to go."

"Well, yeah," I replied.

"The problem is that Mom still loves Uncle Josh."

"Well, yeah, Megs. We all love Uncle Josh."

She smiled at me in that way that says 'Dumb boy, you just don't get it, do you?' "No, Caleb, Mom loves him. Like marriage loves him. Like I-wonder-if-she-regrets-marrying-Dad loves him."

I sat back in my chair. "Seriously?"

She nodded. "Caleb, I really scared."

"I am too."

"I'm scared for Uncle Josh, yeah, but for Mom and Dad, too."

"You realize that if we go help with the campaign it's going to seem to Dad like we're choosing sides."

"Yeah," she admitted. "Which side are you choosing?"

"I have no idea."

"Yeah, me neither."

"I thought you said you would help Uncle Josh," I shoved some food into my mouth.

"Not if he's sleeping with Mom."

"You really think that's what's going on?"

"I have no idea, Caleb. No flipping idea."

xxxxx