Title: Our Next Life
Category: Romance/Humor/Drama
Rating: PG-13
Summary: "Join me in ten years," the message said. "Then we'll see what happens next."

Disclaimer: Since I own them you all must pay ME for the use of them…oh, wait…that's not me. Don't own them, never will : (
Author's Notes: Feedback Love

Chapter 7

It wasn't always like this. When he first met her he was attracted to her, but not even close to the situation he currently found himself in. Now it was difficult for him to get through a half hour without thinking about her, much less a whole day. Josh knew he had to do something about it, which is why he was on his way to the Oval Office.

The Bartlet administration was in their second term and that came with a few more liberties. Sure, there will be backlash, and the press will have a field day but it won't affect the President as it would have before. Actually, the press would probably rip them apart. He didn't care. As long as she felt the same way about him he can weather anything thrown his way. He was sick of seeing her date other guys, something had to be done about it, and if the President said that it wasn't okay he would just tell the man to go screw himself and then he would resign. But at the moment Josh just needed to go in there and face the President and Leo like a man.

"Is he free?" he asked Charlie.

"Yeah, you can go in. Leo's there, too."

"Good," he said nervously, walking towards the door.

"Josh," Charlie called him back.

"Yeah?"

"Good luck."

"What do you mean?" Josh panicked a little.

"You looked a little uneasy; I just wanted to tell you good luck with whatever it is." He smiled at Charlie.

"Thanks." Josh fixed his tie and walked in.

"Good evening, sir, Leo."

"Evening, Josh," Leo replied.

"How you doing, Josh?" the President asked from the arm chair in the middle of the room. "Have a seat."

"Actually, I came here on a mission, sir." Josh's heart was beating in his ears as he sat down on the couch closest to the door he just came through, Leo sitting opposite him.

"Is that so? And what is it?" President Bartlet took off his glasses and laid them on the nearby table, finally giving his full attention to the younger man.

"As you know you are in your second term…"

"Yes."

"And because of that we are able to take actions that may not have been acceptable before." Josh was fumbling his words and he knew it.

"What's your point?"

"My point is…well, you see…umm…what I want to do is…I want…" he sighed. "Excuse me, sir, what I mean to say is…I would like to ask Donna out on a date and I was wondering if that would be all right," Josh said in a rush, bracing himself for a negative answer. He didn't want to resign and he really didn't want to tell the President of the United States to go screw himself.

"Well, what do you think, honey? Should we let our little Donna go on a date with this young man?" President Bartlet said to his Chief of Staff, who smirked in response.

"I don't know. What time will you have her home by, son?"

"You two are just hilarious, you know that? A big box of laughs, really."

"We try," the President replied. "But seriously, Josh, we'll withstand this, we're prepared."

"You are?"

"Yeah, you know the drill, we're always ready for situations like this," Leo said. "It's the classic political windfall, a sex scandal, we have to be prepared."

"I don't like this being called a sex scandal, Leo, that's definitely not what this is!" Josh growled. The President shot Leo a look.

"We know that, Josh, Leo was just saying…"

"I know what he was saying!"

"No, you obviously don't, Josh," Leo's voice rose as he spoke. "I'm happy for you, I really am, but do you not think this comes with consequences? Everyone's going to be affected by this, the administration is going to be looked down on, Donna and you are going to be dragged through hell, so if this is what it's going to be like when we've prepared for it, could you imagine what it would be like if we didn't! This is going to be a sex scandal to everyone except for those who know you and so I'm just preparing you for it." Josh looked everywhere except for at the two older men.

"Thanks, Leo," he finally said.

"We're just looking out for you, kid."

"And I'm really sorry, if I could hold out any longer, I would, really, I would, but I can't, I just…I can't, I'm sorry." They grinned at him.

"We would never ask you to hold out on this, Josh, it's just too important," the President commented.

"Yeah, we'll deal with it, no matter what," Leo said and then pointed to the door. "But I think it's time you told CJ."

"This is going to be pleasant," Josh replied getting up. "Thank you sir, thank you, Leo."

A/N: Thank you soooo much for all the feedback so far, I'm really glad your liking this, and pleeease leave more, it helps me to write.