Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press
A/N: It's cool that my authors notes are funny. J But really sad that this is my second to last one. I'm already thinking about a sequel and trying to play with it. For those who were waiting for some Josh/Donna lovins, there's a little in here. Jen's fic will be up shortly. I'm so sad that it's ending!
Therese: hehe. I think everyone makes him god-father. It's like an unwritten rule. And I don't argue with tradition!
AEM1: Your review is awesome. I often leave non-sentences and long reviews too. I'm flattered that you read and enjoyed it all. Jen's fic is called "Ladies and Gentlemen of the White House." It's going to be so good! I've had previews. ;)
Melissa: Haha! I didn't think of actually doing it, but it'd be too funny.
Netcord: Thanks! Toby is such a teddy bear (deep down inside)
Kursk: Hehe. I hope I 'delivered' (ba-dum ching!)
"Of Babies and White Houses"
Colleen Jean Concannon was born at nine fifty-three am. She was small, due to her early birth, but completely healthy, much to CJ and Danny's relief.
Toby left after seeing the baby, because he had so much work to do, but Danny stayed. CJ had come to her senses a little more, though she was still hormonal, and tried insisting that he leave.
"You have a job to do, Danny," she lectured from her hospital bed.
"Yeah, I need to be here for the mother of my child."
"You know what I meant," she grumbled. He obviously wasn't going anywhere. "What am I going to do about my job?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I have a baby now, I don't really know how to juggle that and an eighteen hour-a-day job."
"We'll figure something out," Danny told her.
"But we---"
He cut her off. "We'll figure it out. Don't worry about it now."
"I'm going to need time off, they're going to have to find someone to handle the press briefings…" CJ was worried about that one.
"You don't think they'd let Josh do it again, do you?"
CJ glared at him with brief fear in her eyes. "No way….they couldn't. They'll probably have to hire someone."
"Won't be as good looking as you," Danny flirted.
"I figure you're a little biased," she told him.
"Just a little," Danny laughed, kissing her. "When this is all over…I mean, will we live together or get married?"
CJ pursed her lips. "I don't know, Danny."
"Well you need to figure it out, we have a daughter."
"I know it's just…it's complicated. You know that."
"Yeah, I know it. Doesn't mean I have to like it," Danny quibbled.
"Well just take your own advice, and we'll work out later."
"CJ," Danny said softly. "I just wanna be with you."
She bit her lip. "I know."
Since the hospital didn't hold CJ long and most of her colleagues couldn't get away from the White House to be there, she brought Colleen in two days later.
"She's beautiful, CJ," the First Lady told her. They were in the residence having a breakfast of sorts. The President had already been up for four hours going over a dozen reports that collected in the few hours he was asleep.
"May I hold her?" the President asked.
"Of course," she answered, handing over the tiny creature. CJ was afraid to hold Colleen at first, thinking she'd break. She assumed President Bartlet was used to it after three daughters and grandchildren.
After chatting idly a little longer, the President handed Colleen back to her. "Don't let her be a stranger to the White House. We'll rear this little one to be in politics from day one."
"To be fair, she's already three days old, so that'd make it day three," CJ replied with her dry wit.
"Jed," Abbey threatened. "You don't need to recruit a three day old baby to the Democratic Party."
"It's never too early, you know," he smirked. "Maybe she'll be president someday, just like her grandfather."
CJ smiled at the self-appointed title. She was sure that the Bartlet's would stay involved in her daughter's life, even after the administration.
"If you ever need a babysitter," Abbey said smiling and giving CJ a kiss on the cheek.
"You'd better take that beautiful little girl around and show everyone, otherwise they're going to break down the door."
"Yes, sir," CJ replied, thanking him for breakfast.
She made her way to the bullpen area and found Donna running around like a chicken without a head.
"Yes, uh huh, I understand that you --- well I'm sorry but that won't --- yes, I know. Could you hold a moment?" Donna cupped her hand over the receiver. "Josh! Fifteen minutes, I mean it!" Turning back to the phone, "I'm sorry, sir, but you'll have to call somebody else. We don't handle that."
Donna turned and saw CJ at the door, not processing it at first, as she went to scribble something down. Then it clicked and she winged back around and yelped, "CJ!" She ran over to CJ and Colleen and a look of awe crept onto her face.
"CJ, she's….so tiny and perfect," Donna cooed at the baby.
"Colleen, meet Ms. Donnatella Moss," CJ smiled.
Josh emerged from his office and took one look at the two women before he joined them.
Donna looked up at him as he approached. "Look at her, Josh. Look at how cute and tiny she is. I want one." The blonde looked at him hopefully and Josh just gave her a look that was a cross between a smirk and a 'you're crazy' look.
"How are you, CJ?" He asked studying mother and baby. "How is she? They said everyone was healthy and all, but that's the kind of thing you ask when someone has a baby…"
Donna looked at him impatiently. "Of course they're okay, Josh, she's here to show her off to the White House."
"The President?" He asked, knowing that Bartlet would want to see her.
CJ nodded. "We had breakfast with him and the First Lady this morning."
Josh looked at Colleen's little fingers and toes, and how peaceful and beautiful she looked while she slept. She had a light mat of orangey hair.
Josh smiled. "She looks like him, you know?"
"It figures, after I do all the work," CJ joked. It was an old joke, but she finally had a chance to use it. She'd never imagined herself with a baby, but here she was, interrupting her co-workers to let them coo over the child she'd created.
"You gonna take her in the pressroom?" Josh asked.
"Josh!" Donna scolded.
"What? Some of them know CJ personally and would want to see the baby."
"I actually hadn't thought about it," CJ admitted. She thought of Katie, Steve, and Chris and some of the others who knew her more personally. "I suppose I should…do you think it'd be alright?"
"Yeah, I don't see why not," Josh shrugged.
"Okay, well I'm going to drop in on Sam and Toby, even though he was, well, there. I'm sure Bonnie and Ginger want to see her."
"They do," Donna assured her. "It's all we've been talking about for the last three days."
CJ grinned. "I'll see you two later?"
"Sure, come by before you leave."
She watched them go back to work. How easily they fit together in the work world, just as she and Danny had. They were right under the others nose. Sure, they both had feelings for each other, but they were still in that cat and mouse game. Date other people, pretend they don't care, get insanely jealous when the other is dating someone. CJ hoped they'd figure it out some day.
Donna spent a few minutes at her desk, gathering papers together for Josh, then walked into his office.
"You were right…tiny and perfect," Josh mumbled, still in awe over the baby.
"And cute," Donna added.
"Men don't say 'cute,' Donna."
"Well women do, and I do…and I was serious about wanting one."
Josh raised an eyebrow. Why did it seem like every time she said that she was asking him to father a child for her? More importantly, why did he want that to be her meaning?
"I want someone who loves me, enough to risk everything and anything for me, like Danny did for CJ, and I want a baby, and a family."
Josh had his arms around her before he knew what was happening. Holding Donna, he rubbed his hand along her back to soothe her. "You'll find it, Donna. Someday you'll have a family, your very own little baby to care for, and you'll find someone who loves you."
I already have, she thought, burying her face in his shoulder.
To be concluded…
