Disclaimer: I don't own anyone, although I wouldn't mind owning Sam ;-)
This story takes place in my own timeline – Santos got voted in as President, Leo is the VP, Josh is COS, Sam, Deputy COS, Toby kept his job as communications director, Will is his deputy, CJ is COS to Leo and Zoey and Charlie are there because they are still close to all the staff.
Thanks everyone for reviewing, I'm sorry this is moving along quite slowly, I have a bit of a case of writers block! The next chapter will finally deal with the engagement party and the meeting in the boat house, I'll post it as soon as I've written it if you are still enjoying it! All feedback, good and bad really appreciated!
"I hate being single." A slightly drunk Donna Moss muttered while the girls were watching Sweet Home Alabama at Mallory's apartment. They had been chatting and drinking wine all the way through the film and they were all a little bit tipsy. "I mean look at this girl, she has two guys practically fighting over her, even though she has lied to both of them and left one of them to have a career. Why can't I have anyone in love with me like that!" her voice rose up to an almost wail at the end of the sentence.
"What about Josh?" Zoey asked, seeing their opportunity had come easily. Donna almost spat her wine out in shock at that. "Josh? As in my boss Josh!"
"Yes Josh as in your boss Josh, how many Joshes do you know?" CJ said a little impatiently.
"He's not in love with me! what are you talking about!" Donna asked, confused.
"Whatever," CJ said, in a slightly dismissive tone, "Lets look at the evidence shall we! He flew all the way to Germany to be buy you bedside, got incredibly jealous when that photographer turned up, was distraught when you left to work for Russell, he actually thought there was something going on with you and Will, and he has tried to sabotage every date you have been on since the first campaign. Did I miss anything girls?" Zoey and Mallory shook their heads, smiling at the look on Donna's face: pure denial.
"He's my best friend! That doesn't mean he's in love with me!" Donna exclaimed, taking an enormous gulp of her wine.
"But you're in love with him?" Mallory stated in a fairly matter of fact tone.
"Awww jeez Mal are you on this again?" Donna asked a flicker of amused exasperation crossing her face, "Do I have to spell it out for you? I am not in love with Josh and Josh sure as hell is not in love with me!" Liar, a voice inside her said softly.
"OK Donna, whatever you say!" Zoey said, reaching over and refilling her wineglass, "One of these days you guys are going to have to admit it."
"So Mal, how are things with Sam these days? The two of you seem really happy?" Donna asked.
"Donna the Queen of Misdirection," Mallory joked, "you really were destined to be Press Secretary! But in answer to your question, Me and Sam are great, he really is the sweetest guy, I love him to pieces!"
"I always knew you two would get it together in the end," Donna said with a slightly wistful smile, "Even when Leo was having his little fun by causing trouble when he could, the chemistry between you was so obvious, you are perfect for each other."
Mallory smiled and blushed, "he's amazing, I couldn't be happier."
Donna, Zoey, Mallory and CJ soon turned their attention back to the film, and no-one brought up the subject of Donna and Josh again, it was fairly clear that they weren't going to get anywhere with her.
At the same time the girls were hanging out at Mallory's flat, Sam, Charlie and Toby had dragged Josh out to a nearby bar for a couple of drinks, to celebrate Charlie and Zoey's engagement, and of course to put part of their plan into action.
"So Josh, have you heard from Amy recently?" Toby asked, "Not since we took office, no. Why do you ask?"
"Well we were hoping that you were going to say no because you are hopelessly in love with Donna."
"Are we really back on this topic again?" Josh asked, rolling his eyes. "So Toby let me ask you this… Have you told CJ how you really feel yet?"
"CJ and I are old friends nothing more. And we were talking about you and Donna, not me and CJ. She loves you, you know."
"Whaaaattttt?" Josh squeaked, "Are you talking about? She doesn't love me; not like that anyway, we are best friends, that's all."
"Sure Josh, whatever you say." Sam said, "But the sooner you admit it, the sooner you can be happy."
"Sam, Donna doesn't feel that way about me, I know that for a fact, why aren't you going on at Toby instead of me, you know him and CJ have the hots for each other."
"That maybe so but that's not the conversation we are having right……..what!" Sam trailed of innocently at the glare Toby was sending in his direction.
"For the last time, CJ and I do not have the hots for each other as Josh so childishly put it." Toby all but growled.
"Anyway Josh, when are you going to tell Donna how you feel?" Charlie put in seeing that an argument was imminent.
"Charlie!" Josh exclaimed, "I'm not going to tell Donna anything because I'm not in love with her!"
"Whatever you say man." Charlie said, rolling his eyes at his two companions.
"My God these two are the most stubborn people I have ever met!" Mallory sighed as she sat down onto the sofa in Sam's office. "I have never met two people more in denial, well," she paused, "except for CJ and Toby I suppose, but that's different, there's more issues with those two. Why won't then just admit that they are hopelessly in love with each other!"
"Because I honestly don't think they have realised it yet baby, " Sam replied, sitting down beside her and giving her a kiss hello, "I think there was a time when they realised it, but they pushed it to the back of their minds. They knew they couldn't be together, eventually the way they act just became second nature."
"Wow Sam, looks like that Psych 101 class really stuck with you all these years!" Mallory teased. Sam grinned, "I've worked with those two for 9 years! I always thought they would get together during President Bartlett's first term! Instead Josh went for Amy, something I have never understood."
"God that woman was awful! I think it almost killed Donna when they got back together!"
"We'll sort them out soon enough! Then maybe we could start on CJ and Toby!"
"Toby would kill you, and I want you very much alive thank you very much!"
"When is Zoey and Charlie's engagement party?"
"A week on Friday. The Bartlett's are sending out the invitations this week." Mallory replied.
"So when do we give them their letters?"
"I think the day we go up to Manchester, we can arrange for the post room to deliver them the morning before we leave so they'll defiantly have them before we get there.
"Good idea. Now lets stop talking about Josh and Donna and what says I take you out for lunch?" Sam whispered as he leaned in for a kiss.