Chapter 2
Authors Note: Sorry it took so long to get this up, got a little distracted this week. Thank you all for your encouraging reviews. For those who did not enjoy this story please do not waste your temporary internet files, by reading it again. The rating has also been changed until I get to the more exciting part of the story. Not much in way of politics in this mostly romance, sorry I feel like being mushy right now. For those who did like the 1st chapter I can tell you that you will like what I have instore for our favorite West Wing couple. And on that note enjoy and review.
This morning I woke up to this scruffy faced man trailing kisses on my cheek and neck. It was nice having a warm arm wrapped around mine. For a while I forgot where I was then I heard Josh speak and I looked at my left hand and realized that last night was indeed not a dream and 100 real. I know that it has to be early because there is no sunlight coming through the windows, glancing at the clock I notice it says 5:04, yep its still early. And unfotually even though the entire senior staff was out late celebrating, the American voters don't let us have the day off and neither did the President. Although he is allowing us to come in late, but for Josh late is 8 instead of 7 and that means I'm going in at 8 as well.
"30 minutes to showtime."
"Urgh why so early, we don't have to be in until 8?"
"Yes that is true but you still have to go back to your place and change for the day, cause even though I like you in your ball gown, I think the others might object to that. Plus I want to take my fiance out for breakfast."
"Oh well in that case I'm rolling over and sleeping for another 20 minutes."
"Oh no you are not, I have plans for you."
"And what might those plans be?" He didn't answer, all he did was lean in and kiss me. Granted we did a lot of that and more last night, both during and after the ball. But now these kisses are different they are soft and sentual and full of words even though we are not saying anything. I can feel his arms trailing a line up and down my arm, and his body is pressing against mine. Why did I wait so long to do this, what was I thinking?
Somewhere around a half hour later Josh is throwing a jacket on over his shirt, while I am trying to gather my dress and everything that goes with it. Josh leant me a pair of his sweat pants and his Mets sweatshirt, which by the way he is not getting it back ever. He looks great I on the other hand look like I crawled out of bed and put on the first thing that I could find. My hair is falling around my face and looks like I combed it with a fork and yet Josh is looking at me like he's never seen me before. Ok I have to ask.
"What am I that horrible to look at right now."
"No, its just that you are so beautiful."
I smile because I know that he means that from the bottom of his heart and I blush because I barely believe that I said that I would marry this man. I must have done something right at one point in my life to have him in mine. I walk over and kiss him, then tell him that we will be late if we stay any longer in this apartment. He just laughs and askes what he would do with out me, to tell you the truth I don't know nor do I want to.
I actually slept last night. For the first time in I would say 10 years I slept, and not just sleep to recharge the battery, but a deep sleep where I woke up the next morning and felt relaxed and ready to take on Congress with both arms tied behind my back. This was not a fluke this great night of sleep was all part of having Donna Moss say that she would marry me and then having her head on my shoulder all night. When I woke up with her there I was smiling, I didn't want to wake her, instead I just watched her sleep glancing everynow and then at the ring that I put on her finger last night. Next to Donna that ring on her finger is the most beautiful thing that I have ever seen. Currently I am sitting here on the couch in her apartment while she is changing in her room. The reason that I am out here and she is in there is because I have a hard time keeping my hands off of her when we are together, thinking about this, work may be very hard until I can learn to keep my hands off of her. It being a Friday and the day after we were sworn in we're planing it on being a light day so the staff is allowed to be casual. That's why when Donna emerges wearing blue jeans and a black blazer I am in awe. Her hair is in a pony tail and her jewlery is simple, he watch a pair of earrings and the engagement ring that I gave her last night. She is 100 the picture of perfection. I walk over grab her hand and kiss it, then I kiss her, then I wrap my hands around her waist and pull her out the door, if we stay here any longer we will be late for what is offically our first day of work.
"Where do you want to go for breakfast?"
"I get to decide, well if thats the case lets go down to The Bill of Rights, I hear that they are a killer eggs florintine."
"The Bill of Rights it is." When we get there, I see 4 Congressman and 3 Senators. All of which are republicans and all of which have never been fond of me. But for the moment I don't care. I'm having breakfast with the woman that I love and the woman that I am going to marry. I am one lucky guy when I think about it. While walking to the table Donna leans over and tells me to stop swagerring, people are watching. I can't help it, the swagger is here to stay for a while because this is the swagger of a man in love. Breakfast is simple, we eat and drink our coffee, and smile at each other. We decided in the car ride over that at staff this morning we will tell everyone about the engagement, and after that Donna is going to work with Will and Charlie on spin control. I hate the idea of spinning our realtionship, but we have to have a plan of attack. After all we've been offically in the White House less than 24 hours and already we need spin control because the Cheif of Staff became engaged to the Press Secretary last night. Boy is that going to make me not telling her things very hard to do sometimes. We did it with CJ and we'll do it with Donna, and she knows that we will do it with her and she may get mad at me, but at least she'll be at home with me when she does get mad. That makes me think that tonight we will have to talk about living arrangements when we get home.
We walk into the West Wing about 7:30 she goes to her office and I go to mine, and already I miss her. I open up one of desk drawers and find a folder marked for emergency's. Inside I see a list of all posible exits out of the building in case of a fire, a list of the order of succession, and plans for situations that may occur in the White House. This must be CJ's joke from when she was in this office. In case you are wondering some sitations that may arise in the White House are as follows; Toby murdering any member of the staff and the explainations of what are the possibilities are. Remind me never to make Toby mad. What happens if the Press Room suddenly cathches fire, and reporters say that it was either terrorism, the event of a mad man, or the Press Secretary loosing her mind. Also included is plans for a Pregnant memeber of Senior Staff or a person pregnant by Senior Staff; and to top the cake what happens if a member of Senior Staff becomes engaged or married on the spur of the moment. Looks like she put somethings in here just for me, gotta love that woman. A knock wakes me from my findings. I look up to see Donna ready to take notes in Staff and take on the day.
"Hey."
"Hey, look what I found on my desk."
"What?"
"A stradgey for if you and I wake up and realize that we are in love."
"And what does it say."
"One line it says announce it at a briefing and wait to see what unfolds."
"Huh."
"Yeah."
"No I'm saying that that's kinda weird, I mean how its pharsed."
"Josh, come on do you honestly think that that plan will work?"
"I don't know, but there is only one way to find out."
"Josh you aren't serious. Oh my god you are serious."
"You know me so well. Now sit down we have Staff in five minutes, you ready?"
"Yeah. Lets do this."
"OK." I smile and sit down behind my desk. I wait and watch my fiancee go through her briefing book. Since it's only our second day, there isn't much to brief, but there are a few things, mainly appointments, but there are a few things the nation needs to know about. I prefer it if we just hide inside the building and scare Congress from here and don't let anyone in for the next 8 years, but I don't always get everything that I want. Very few instances have occured where I do, but those are few and far between. I can't help but every so often cast a glance towards Donna, this is going to be hard to do.
I'm sitting here on the couch in Josh's office, reading over my briefing book. I know that he is watching me every so often, but I'm ignoring it. Instead of looking atJosh I glance at the ring on my finger. Today I am the happiest girl in the whole country. I can't help but smile, and think about last night and this morning. At breakfast I thought Josh would abandon me to go talk to the many Senators and Congressman that were in the restaurant. I have to admit that I was very proud that he sat there and ate a breakfast in peace and not once did he bring up work I was very happy. I'm scribbling some notes down in my notebook when Will walks in Charlie right behind him. I have to admit Charlie is wearing a big smile on his face, but no where near the size Josh's. This is going to be one heck of a day considering the fact that I have just noticed that Will has yet to make eye contact with anyone in the room. Something is going on with him and I'm going to find out what it is.
"Well good morning everyone. Let's start the day. A few things to cover before we start on the business of the country. Donna and I got engaged last night, and I understand that both Charlie and Will have some information to share as well."
"Well Josh Zoey also said yes to my proposal last night and I am happy to say that I am no longer on the market."
"Congratulations Charlie! And Will what about you?"
"Kate and I are seeing one another."
"That's all?"
"Yes that's all."
"Then why won't you look anyone in the eye?"
"None of your business, now can we move onto the business of the country?"
"Fine what ever. So any new information on the appointments?" So there we are back to the business of running the country, I'm wondering about the poeple of the country that they have let this group of people stay in office for 12 years at this point. We tackle what to say about the confirmations, and the spin control for not only Josh's and my engagement but also Charlie and Zoey's. Then I will talk briefly about some of the upcoming legislation then I'm done. Nice short and sweet, just the way that I like it. I want this day kept simple and no major interuptions so that I can go home with Josh and continue what he started this morning. Can I just state for the record that I am very happy to be marring Josh Lyman. I leave Senior Staff without saying goodbye to Josh, for I am running late for my 4th briefing as White House Press Secretary. Let me tell you that is a title that I am happy to live with for the rest of my life, well that and Mrs. Joshua Lyman, but thats our secret don't tell Josh, his ego is enough as it is.
Donna left my office didn't say goodbye or that she would see me later, all she did was leave. I understand that she has a press briefing but the press can wait I am her fiancee and I can't. I know I'm like that little boy at Chaunka that wants his presents for all 8 days on the first night, but I have the right to be. A very beautiful woman has agreed to marry and no one else. This is how it was meant to be, I see that now, too bad I couldn't see it after I was shot. I walk through the connecting door from my office to the Oval and brief the President of the events of the day then I'm going after Donna to tell her that I'm taking her to lunch barring no national emergencys. At lunch we are going to talk about her moving in with me until we can find a house that we both agree on and we also need to call her parents and my mother. I'm sure that my mother is going crazy wanting to know if Donna said yes, I'm not sure why she thought Donna would say no, but she did mention that the thought did cross her mind. The President and I have a Security Briefing, amongst other things, but National Security is a very important part of our everyday life. The only part of this briefing that I do not like is the part where I have to be given a NSA card. I gave this card back 7 years ago, this time I'm not allowed to. This is hard to do, I have to keep this with me at all times, the only problem that I have with that is that Donna is not high enough on the chain of command to get a card. The only thing I can think of is that Donna will be with me almost all day long. I mean she'll be at home with me when we leave and when we aren't at home she'll be here, hopefully in the event of an national emergency the entire Senior Staff will be evacuated with the President. I can't begin to explain how nervous I am about having this card, I just need to ignore the fact that I have it and would rather not, but its not my choice.
By the time I finish with what I am supposed to be doing I realize that its 2 in the afternoon and I have yet to see Donna. I notice that Ronna has put a salad on my desk with a bottle of water and note from Donna.
Eat your lunch, it's good for you.
Love Donna
I know now why I love that woman. She's trying to prevent me from having a heart attack like Leo. I'll be the first to admit that I take loosy care of myself and my diet proves that. Not to mention the fact that not but two inches from my heart is a repaired artery. I sit down and eat the salad albeit grudenly but I eat it. I do it for the sake of the woman that I love, because I want to grow old with her and raise our children, and one day have the marriage that Jed and Abbey Bartlett have. I found the woman that I want to grow old with, and considering that I am almost half way there I need to take better care of my self. This is the first step this salad, I know that if I don't eat this it will get back to Donna, but if I do I earn points in her favor for when I start to put my foot in my mouth which lets face it we all know I will, we just are never sure when.
"Josh, the English ambassadoor is on line 4."
"Thanks Ronna." And back to work I go. I love my job."
I went straight from Senior Staff to my Press Briefing then into my office to work up some statements about the two newly engaged couples from the White House, at noon I had Carol send Josh a salad from the mess with a note telling him to eat it. I wanted to see him at lunch but he was tied up in meetings all day long. I'm pretty sure that he and President Santos have been meeting with everyone from the CIA on up to the National Security Advisor. Poor baby, I'm not quite sure how he's faired today since I haven't seen him and won't be able to until he is off the phone with the English Ambassadoor and ready for Senior Staff. Ronna tells me that they have been on the phone all afternoon, but he did eat his salad. We are running five minutes behind schedule by the time Josh gets off the phone. We all file in one by one, I go in last and look at Josh and do everything that is within my power not to laugh, I smile, but I don't laugh. His hair is in five directions and his sleaves are rolled up to his elbows, and he looks like he went nine rounds with Congress. When Josh is like this it takes all my will power not to kiss him in front of everyone, for this is when he looks the most attractive. I have seen that look for 8 years and every year it gets better and better.
Josh drops a note on my notebook in the middle of one of his rants, I'll read it later like on my way to the briefing if it were something important he would have told everyone. I know this is private and for my eyes only so I wait like a teenager who waits for last bell of the day to ring. We all leave I go to my briefing room to announce the engagements and to call a full lid for the day. Two days into the job these guys know that if anything does happen they will be notified. I read my note walking to my podium. It's short and simple.
It's been a long day and I can't wait to kiss you again.
Love Josh
Little does he know that I can't wait to see him either. The room is quiet much like a pride of lions waiting for their prey, only in this instance I am the prey and they are the lions and one slip of the tounge can change the whole weeks events. Hense why Josh is not allowed in the press room, I do not need to pick up the pieces of a National Plan to Fight Inflation. I see familiar faces when I walk in, most of these people know me and the staff, I know who to trust and who not to, but they are all reporters so I don't trust them further than I go throw them, which isn' that far. So here we go time for the nation to know that I am in love with my boss, most of Congress thought so for years, but now its offical.
"Ok guys I just have a few things and then I'm calling a full lid. President Santos spent the day being briefed from the head of the CIA Mark Roberts, and then met with his National Security Council. The list of President appointments is being finished for its submission to Congress for their approval. Former President Joshia Bartlett and his wife Abbey have arrived safely back to their home in Nasua, New Hampshire. Former President Barlett says that he misses you all terribly, but is looking forward to real sleep for the first time in 8 years. The White House wishes them best as they embark on the next part of their lives. And finally the White House is pleased to announce the engagement of Deputy White Chief of Staff Charlie Young to Zoey Bartlett. Former President Bartlett and Mrs. Barlett are pleased with the announcement, and wish the couple best wishes. And a final engagement to announce is that of White House Chief of Staff Josh Lyman to Press Secretary Donna Moss. My understanding is that this announcement comes as no surprise to members of Congress or the press core, and I understand that several of you will be collecting bets later this evening."
"Donna?" Twelve hands shoot up ready to ask questions they all want the dirt to put in their paper, and I have to admit I was expecting it.
"Yes, Chris then Katie and Steve."
"Donna, when did you and Josh start dating."
"You would have to ask Josh to clairify the date, but if you ask most of Washington we have been dating since the first Bartlett campaign. Katie."
"Donna did the White House plan the double engagement or was it conicedence?"
"Just conincidence, but we all celebrated together just like always. Steve."
"Donna this is just for me, are you happy?"
"Exstatic. Thats a full lid everyone goodnight."
As I left the room bursts into applause. I smile and nod then grab my notebook and leave the room. Josh is waiting in my office when I return, he smiles. Wraps me into a hug and then wispers in my ear "Let's go home."
"Ok" I smile and start to pack up my office. I love that he refered to his place as our home. I am so in love with this man that words are not enough to describe how I feel at this moment.