xxxxx

I've tried to be patient. I really have. I've known them for over 15 years now. And I just can't wait anymore for them to get their act together.

Josh and CJ need to get married.

That is simply the end of that.

Josh was the best man at my wedding and CJ was a bridesmaid. When the two of them were dancing, I just couldn't stand it anymore.

I owe a lot to CJ. She's the one who introduced me to Melissa.

Ah, my Melissa.

During Bartlet's second term, CJ was in need of a new deputy. I can't remember why, but Peter just never worked out. Anyway, so she hires this girl, Melissa Norman. I've always thought it strange that her maiden name is my given middle name. Huh.

I can't really remember how it all happened, but we ended up getting coffee a few days after she started working. It was just like with Josh and Lis. Magic.

Goofy grin

But back to Josh and CJ. Like I said before, they simply need to get married. They're perfect for each other and they're getting old. Drea's 13 years old and she needs a mother and she worships the ground CJ walks on. Not that I'm saying Josh should ever get married just for Drea, but he and CJ are in love. They just don't know it.

I'm sure of it.

And I'm getting impatient.

xxxxx

Josh Lyman is a genius. No one questions that. But those closest to him also know that he's an idiot.

He could write briefing memos and make speeches and run meetings for the President of the United States. He can affectively oversee thousands of White House employees. He's spent the past eight years since we left the White House as a professional political advisor for the highest rated television drama ever, in addition to the one of the top news venues in the country. He can learn the entire sport of swimming virtually overnight, just to be involved in his daughter's life.

But he can't work up the nerve to tell CJ that he wants to marry her. Heck, he can't even ask her out.

I've kind of served as 'surrogate father' to the boy for a while now, so I know things that probably no one else knows. Including him.

This weekend is going to be huge for the little Lyman family. I have no doubt that Drea's on her way to Italy for the Olympics, no doubt at all. I've only seen her swim a few times, but she's a Lyman. I learned a long time ago that Lymans don't take no for an answer.

xxxxx

Seriously, my dad is such a guy.

It's fairly obvious to the rest of the world that Aunt CJ and my dad are in love. But he's completely oblivious. I hear that Uncle Sam, Uncle Leo, Uncle Toby, Uncle Jed and Aunt Abbey have a pool going to see when Dad will propose.

My bets are on this weekend.

That is, if I have anything to say about it.

This weekend is the biggest weekend of my life. The papers and magazines and TV shows have all been saying that I must be on drugs or something to pull the time in the 100 Free that I do. Well, I guess I should say that they did, until Dad informed them that I didn't.

The speculating stopped abruptly after that, I assure you.

I've been raised under this shadow of brilliance. It's really weird. I can never remember failure being an option. So when Woody and Dad and I decided to start this whole Olympic thing, I never even dreamed that I wouldn't go through with it.

My dad isn't an overly affectionate guy. Sure, I get hugged and kissed and stuff, but he has a hard time coming out and saying that he loves me. I know he does, but he'd rather banter with me and tease me that say that he loves me. That's fine, I can live with it.

I guess growing up the way I did made me grow up fairly fast. Not that it's a bad thing or anything, I just grew up fast. I've always been treated like an adult and always been expected to act like one, too.

It comes with the territory.

13 year olds aren't supposed to be trying out for the Olympics either.

I'm going to do it. There's no doubt in my mind. Laminate my name on the list, baby, because Rebecca Andrea Lyman does not die fast and quiet, nor does she take no for an answer.

The race is not against anyone else but that clock.

The clock and I are good friends and I've beaten it many times.

What's once more?

xxxxx

"A large Disani and a medium Coke," Josh informed the waitress with a grin at his daughter, who replied by rolling her eyes. "And for dinner, she'll have the Jack Daniel's Ribs and I'll have the Smoked Chicken BLT." The pair had landed at the BWI airport to discover that CJ's plane was delayed. So, not quite knowing what to do with themselves, they found their way to the TGI Friday's across from CJ's gate with Josh complaining about American airports the entire way.

"Dad, seriously," Drea smiled, "I can branch out."

"What?"

"When I'm predictable enough that you can order my entire meal for me, I should really consider trying new things."

"Well, sweetie, you are rather –"

"Predictably boring?"

Josh swallowed tactfully, "I was more going to go for reliable and low maintenance, but if you say so."

Drea responded to that by throwing a sugar packet at him, hitting him square in the forehead and plopping right into the drink the waitress had just placed in front of him. Which, of course, sent both of them off into gales of laughter.

After a few moments, Josh sobered up. "What's so bad about being predictable?"

Drea raised an eyebrow, "You always say that predictability is a character flaw."

"Maybe I'm wrong."

Drea threw her hand to her heart, "Doth my ears deceive me? Call the press! Josh Lyman admitted that he may be wrong to his 13-year-old daughter!"

"So you're an actress now? We're certainly the Renaissance woman today, aren't we? Olympic swimmer, Academy Award winning actress; where does the talent stop!"

That comment earned Josh another Sweet-n-Low to the head.

"You know, when I banter with Donna, she doesn't throw sugar packets at me."

"Which brings up another flaw in the Lyman family; let her go, Dad."

Josh rolled his eyes and took a sip of his soda, "Drea –"

"No, Dad, hear me out. She's married. She has two children. She should have run for office a long time ago, but no. She's still your assistant. It's been what, almost 20 years now?"

"In April."

"February."

"Shut up."

"Ok."

Josh smiled, "Drea, there are certain people that come into your life that absolutely blow you away and change your life. Then, they'll leave and you'll realize that you're a lesser person without them. Sometimes, they come back, and then you hold onto them as long as they'll let you. Such is the case with me and Donnatella."

"What about when you get married?"

Josh shook his head, "I can't seriously expect a woman to handle my professional and personal life, plus run a house, raise children and possibly hold a job. If Donna wants to stop, she'll stop. She's still with me because she wants to be. Besides, whoever said that I was getting married?"

Drea rolled her eyes. "Everyone on the planet, Dad."

"Hyperbole, Drea. It's called hyperbole."

"Dad, seriously, just marry her."

"Who, Donna? First of all, ew. Second of all, adultery is definitely a federal offense."

"It is? I thought it was just a sin." Drea grinned at the waitress as she set down the meals.

"No, it's not. But it should be," he replied.

"Amen," muttered the waitress.

Both Lymans smiled at her as she politely asked if they needed anything else and then went on her way.

"I meant Aunt CJ."

Josh almost spit out his Coke. Am I that obvious? I thought I was good at this discreetness stuff. "Whatever made you say that, Rebecca Andrea?"

"Dad, I'm not in the water all of the time. I have eyes, I notice things."

"Drea, you're on thin ice, here," he warned in that 'father' tone he only pulled out occasionally.

"You mope when you're not with her, you sparkle when you are. You mark the days on your calendar until you'll see her again. She's been your best friend for all my life; heck, she's really been my mother. She's completely unhappy with her love life, as are you with yours. Neither one of you has been on a date, except with each other, for four years. So, in actuality, you've been dating for four years, Papa Bear. Please, I beg you, in the name of everything that is holy and just in this world, ask her to marry you!" Drea finished with a flourish, completely out of breath.

It took Josh a few moments to absorb all of what was just thrown at him. The two sat in silence as they finished their meals. Josh was too bust thinking to notice the silence and Drea was too petrified to open her mouth again. After about 10 minutes, Josh finally whispered something.

"What was that, Dad?"

"Ok."

She couldn't believe her ears, "'Ok' what?"

"I'll ask CJ to marry me."

Drea nearly dropped her fork, but covered it with the grace of someone who grew up in the public eye, "Good. This weekend, right? It's about flipping time."

Josh smiled at his daughter as she causally continued to cut up her ribs. He was beyond proud of her. Her body, mind and spirit had been continually abused over the past 4 years and she had risen to every challenge. It was never about the medals and the titles and the records for her, it was always about the clock. She always had to beat the clock. He, and the rest of the amazed swimming world, had forced her to grow up rather quickly over the past few years of her life, and she had accepted and succeeded at every challenge.

But this was the weekend. They had made a deal. If, after this weekend, she never wanted to dive into another pool, she didn't have to. In Drea's mind, that meant that she had to make it. She had to get onto the team. Josh wished that he could get it through to her that his love and admiration for her was unconditional. But she was convinced that it was based on the numbers that showed up on that clock when she touched the wall.

"Hey, Rebecca," he began, immediately catching her attention. He never called her Rebecca unless he really wanted to talk about something. "Whatever happens in that pool tomorrow, I love you."

"Yeah, Dad, I know," she mumbled.

"No, you don't," he persisted. "Rebecca Andrea Lyman, you are the most amazing 13-year-old on the planet. I am going to love you and brag about you whether you get on this team or not. I could care less if the clock reads 45 seconds or 45 minutes, you are still my daughter."

"Dad, you've given up your whole life for me! The least I owe you is a medal."

Josh sighed and ran his fingers through his hair, "Drea, I'm a consultant. I could do that from the shower if I wanted to! I have not given up my life for you, but I did change it and that's what father's do. You mother wouldn't have had it any other way. Second, a gold medal is a wonderful thing, but if you're not enough without it, you'll never be enough with it. It changes nothing about your worth. And Drea, you are worthy. You are wonderful. And you are mine. And that's all that counts."

Drea was crying so hard that she couldn't even speak. Josh stood up and pulled Drea up into a huge hug. They froze in that position for a few moments until another precious voice broke into their thoughts.

"Am I interrupting anything?" CJ Cregg said quietly as she touched Josh's shoulder.

"Aunt CJ!" Drea exclaimed, transferring herself from Josh to CJ.

"Hey kiddo, how's it going?" CJ murmured into Drea's hair as she exchanged looks with Josh.

'What makes me presume that he'd even want to interrupt his life to marry me? What indicates to me that he'd even want to?' She thought to herself as she found herself moving into Josh's open arms.

'What makes me presume that she's even ready to get married? What indicates to me that she'd even want to?' Josh thought to himself as he melted into the embrace of his beloved. "Hey Claudia," he whispered.

"Hey Joshua," she whispered back. "We need to talk."

"It's been too long," he affirmed.

She pulled away, grinning, "Yeah. A whole 12 hours."

The two were still grinning as they let Drea lead them down to baggage claim.

Occasionally stealing glances at her "parents", Drea smiled. They should really consider eloping.