Author's note: Here is the first ending. It's not so happy, be warned. I wanted something honest and true to the characters and after Josh's interview during the Al smith Dinner, I figured this made sense. Ok this chapter has language and adult situations. Oh but I loved the twist ending, it'll blow your mind. (Do you think I over sold it?) If you don't like this chapter, it's ok. I totally understand. I wanted the series to end on a good note, so hopefully you'll like the next chapter if you don't like this one. We Cool? THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR FEEDBACK! Really I love you guys.

Dark, it reflected his mood, everything around him was dark. The crowds had left, cheers and tearful goodbyes were memories, the silence had become deafening. His head hung and his fingers pulled at his hair. The room was
hollow, marble and steel. Her footsteps echoed and rang in his ears. Bitterness, disappointment, failure all clung to him. Her steps stopped, her shoes in his line of sight.

"Joshua?"

He didn't look up; he leaned in closer until his head touched her stomach.His arms wrapped around her body, her arms draped over his. Time passed and neither spoke. He looked up at her, eyes red and wet, "Donna, I need to
forget. Help me."

She lifted him and took him in her arms.

They didn't speak during the car ride; she rubbed his hand as he looked out absently out the window. She led him back to his hotel room. She undressed him and kissed him. However the actions that followed were fast, hard and one sided. He collapsed on top of her, rolled off and fell asleep. She laid awake thinking, it wasn't supposed to be like that. It was supposed to be perfect, earth shaking, not like every other experience I've had in bed. She reached out to touch him, he moaned and moved away.

The next morning Donna rolled over on her side and felt the cold sheets next to her; emptiness. Her eyes slowly opened, "Josh?"

He didn't answer right away still contemplating what to say to her. "hmm?"

She sat up and scanned the room. He was sitting at the table at the other end of the hotel room. Pangs of disappointment struck at her heart. He was fully dressed and as far away from her as he could get and still be in the same room.

"Whatcha doing over there?" The attempt to keep her voice even failed.

"I didn't want to wake you."

She smiled and patted the bed. "Come back."

"I'd rather not." His voice was so cold. Realizing how he sounded, he tried to recover. "I don't want to get my clothes all wrinkly." Weak excuse.

Her exposed chest made him stare at his wiggling toes. He started to shift his weight. "Is everything ok?" Her eyebrow furrowed.

"Um could you cover up?" He adverted his eyes until she pulled the sheet.

Anger laced with pain and humiliation echoed in her voice. "Is it the scar?" They had matching scars, hours of operations tend to leave behind evidence.

"Yeah." She cursed his hypocritical nature. He continued to look away from her. "I'm going to get going."

Insecurities returned, "did I do something wrong?" Her voice started to shake.

He stood up, "No, it's just…" He stopped completed the right words and finally decided on being blunt. "I can't look at you right now. All I see is my own failure."

"Josh, you didn't lose the election."

"Yes I did and it was YOUR fault.'

She recoiled back into the headboard. She tried to speak but the words wouldn't leave her throat.

"You showed put and I stopped thinking about the Campaign, you got my head all fuzzy with other thoughts! This whole thing was your fault; I never would have started this if you never left. You ruined my life and I did a fairly nice job of destroying yours. Even your scar is my fault." He pulled at his hair in frustration, "I can't be around you right now. I have to go." He stopped in the doorway, "I'll call."

He grabbed his bag and left dark room, with Donna confused and alone.

He was one the balls of his feet, bouncing up the stairs. The buzzer rang four times before she opened the door.

Donna was greeted with a face full of flowers, puffy hair and dimples. "Hi."

Horror, shame, rage, and relief battled for control in Donna's mind. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"I have news." He tried to push his way into his apartment.

She stood in the door frame, "You only called once in a month. One voice message, 'I'm fine.' That's all I got, nine years, one fuck and a voice mail?" She hissed at him bitterly.

He pushed the flowers at her, "And flowers, I got you flowers."

Her hands remained crossed firmly against her chest.

"Don't you want to hear my news?" He offered again.

A voiced called from the hallway, "Hey Donna, how many boxes of books do you really need ?"

Will Bailey came up behind her, saw Josh and placed his hand on her shoulder. "Is everything ok?"

Donna nodded, "Yeah, Josh has news."

The stems of the flowers were being crushed, "what the hell is going on?"

Donna shifted from side to side, "Will's helping me move."

The blood drained form his face, his heart clenched, "you're moving? Where?"

"California." She stated dryly. She knew the question as going to come, so she cut him off at the pass, "I am going to Berkley to finish my degree."

"But, Berkley is on the other side of the county."

"That's one of its appeals." She spit at him. Of course being Donna, she added more of an explanation, "I have friends out there."

"Who?"

She rolled her eyes in disbelief, "Sam for one. CJ and Will are moving back out there in a few months. I'm going to stay with Will's sister until I find a place on my own."

Josh glare at Will, "You seem to be taking good care of her."

"Not that anyone needs too." Will's icy glare reflected back. "Donna, I'll keep packing."

The silence spoke louder than any words. Donna questioned, "What was your news?"

He blinked for a few seconds, trying to recall it, "I found us a job."

Her eyebrow went up. "Really? Us?"

This was his chance, maybe he could fix everything right here, right now. "Donna I love you."

No reaction from her. She continued to stare at him. He tried to speak again, "I know you're angry with me." A disgust huff left her mouth. "Um I can't live without you and there's still work to be done. I want us, you and me, together." He tried to reach out to her.

"You hurt me Josh, worse of all, you used me."

"I know, and I want to spend the rest of my life making it up to you. Stage one: Get Donna a Job." He started to smile, beam with excitement. A small quiver of a smile crossed her face, in anticipation; it had to be good, right?

Josh blurted out, "We're going to work at the White House!"

The world around Donna started to get dark, she felt dizzy and suddenly needed to doorway as support. "What?"

"Our jobs aren't done. So we're going to work for Vinick?"

"Vinick? Do I need to remind you that he's a Republican? That you hate Republicans?"

"Yeah, but he's a good man. Hell, you wanted to vote for him!"

Donna started to back away, "no I'm not going to work for him."

"Russell was worse! You had no problem with that! I did this for you, so you wouldn't have to move, so we could be together."

Tears started to well up in her eyes, "No you didn't. You did this for yourself, I was just a benefit. You might think you love me, but I know you love your career more." She started to back away, "You've changed, Josh, you aren't the man I fell in love with."

She shut the door, fell into Will's arms and sobbed. In the morning Will threw out the flowers on her welcome mat.

Three years later.

"Mr. President, the President is here." Josh stared at the people who he used to consider family.

Jed Bartlett's eyes darkened, "Lets get this thing started."

One by one they looked at Josh, nodded and followed the former Commander in Chief. Will was the only one left.

"How's Donna?" Josh choked and instantly regretted it.

"She's great." Will coldly answered.

"How was the wedding?"

"Great, she looked amazing."

"I would imagine so."

"She got a new car."

"Really?"

"Yeah, but you knew that." Will's voice was a low growl. "You've had Secret Service following her for three years now."

Josh stammered, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Bullshit! She's moved on; it's time you do the same." Kate called out to Will, reminding he would be late. "Coming Hun," He turned his attention back to Josh. For a second he felt pity for the Deputy Chief of Staff. The last three years aged him, rumors around the Hill says his health is failing. "She's pregnant. Four months."

Josh's world imploded. "Oh. She'll make a great mother."

"Sam will make a great father." Will added without the contempt he had early.

"Yeah he will." Josh swallowed the lump building in his throat.

Will turned and started to head toward his long term girl friend. He kissed Kate on the cheek.

Will left Josh standing alone in a large vacant room, with only his heartbeat to keep him company. Josh was in the dark, because is once source of light had left him for good.