Nuptials By Willow

Summary: Snapshots from Charlie and Zoey's wedding.
Spoilers/Episode: Anything up to season 6 2162 Votes
Characters: Ensemble
Rating: PG (slightest touch of angst, you know I can never resist)
A/N: For this fic I'm choosing to ignore the fact the leak is suspected to be a senior White House staffer because I wanted them all to be here, so instead I've made it Russell, who annoyed me in Babylon 5, Crusade and then annoyed me even more as Bingo Bob ;-)

Part IV - Reception

Abbey sat down next Leo and studied the dance floor. "Are they actually together now, or are they still pretending that they have no feelings for each other?" she asked.

Leo didn't need to follow her gaze to know who she was talking about. "They haven't said anything, but I think they've finally admitted it to each other at least."

"Well thank God for that," Abbey smiled. "So, how are you?"

Leo grinned. "I've been waiting since last night for that to start."

"I'm just concerned for a friend."

"I'm fine. Saw the doctor yesterday, he was pleased, didn't tell me to give up the campaign."

"Good." Abbey had been watching Leo on and off all day, and he did look well. He looked more alive, more energetic and happy, than she'd seen him in a long time. Maybe Jed was right, campaigning was just what Leo needed. "How do get on with your running mate?" she asked.

"I like him, we get on well now we've got to know each other better," Leo replied. "Don't get me wrong, we argue frequently, but it'd worry me if we didn't. Josh was right, he's definitely his own man."

"Is he the real thing?" Abbey asked.

Leo smiled, it amused him how everyone, even Abbey and Jed, had picked up Josh and Sam's expression. "Yeah," he nodded. "I think he is. I thought I'd found the last one, but it seems there was another out there." He looked toward Jed, who appeared to be instructing Charlie and Josh on something that required a lot of hand waving and may involve the use of a mallet. "He isn't Jed," he told Abbey, "but he's closer than I'd ever hoped to find."

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"How are you?" CJ asked Josh.

"I'm good. You?"

"Yeah," CJ agreed.

"Okay, we're both good then," Josh smiled. "So what's up?"

CJ smiled, Josh had known her for too long for her to be able to get away with any subterfuge. "You and Toby okay now?"

"We're fine, don't we seem it?"

"You do, but I wasn't sure whether you were putting on a show for Zoey and Charlie."

"Toby, put on a show?" Josh asked.

"Fair point," CJ laughed.

"Honestly we're fine. I was an idiot," Josh admitted, "it's something I can be quite good at."

"I remember."

"Thanks."

"How's life on the campaign trail?"

"Amazing, frustrating, exhilarating, draining," Josh laughed. "Same as ever."

"You're still stunned aren't you?"

"Completely," Josh admitted. "I mean seven months ago we didn't have enough money for a proper campaign headquarters. Hell three months ago, the Santos's were considering re-mortgaging their house so we could afford to go to Texas. And now... Yeah, I'm still in shock, but it's wearing off. Also, I got to see Leo speechless," he grinned.

"Speechless Leo?" CJ said. "How'd you manage that?"

"Told him he was our choice for VP," Josh smiled. "So how are you, really?"

"I told you..."

"I meant after the leak. Don't tell me you weren't angry that you were a suspect."

"Everyone was a suspect," CJ started to protest. "Yeah," she admitted, "I was angry, but no one here believed it. Toby laughed at them, the president yelled at them, so..."

"Okay."

"It doesn't seem to have damaged your campaign."

"No," Josh agreed. "I don't think it hurts that we were fighting Russell a week earlier, plus he was Haffley's choice for VP."

"True," CJ nodded.

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Sam looked around the room at all his old friends. He'd only been back a day and it was like he'd never been away. They'd all fallen back into the same old banter, the camaraderie they'd had on the campaign trail and in the White House. When he saw Donna talking to Margaret and Carol, he took the chance to talk to Josh alone. "So, I think there maybe something you haven't told me," he said.

"Like what?" Josh asked.

"Donna?"

"Ah. Yes," Josh smiled.

"How long?"

"Almost three weeks."

"About time," Sam said, "it took you long enough to ask her."

"Actually, she asked me," Josh told him. "Took me to an Italian restaurant and announced it was our first date," he grinned.

"Well at least one of you had the gumption to do something."

"Gumption?"

"It's a word."

"So what about you? No special someone?"

"No," Sam sighed. "No one."

"I can have a word to the chief bridesmaid if you like?" Josh smiled.

"Mallory? No I think we should steer well clear of that one."

Part 5, Plans >>>