CJ and Josh are speaking to someone, so Huck and Jennifer stop, waiting at a polite distance. CJ throws him a smile, acknowledging them, but Huck knows from his political days that a conversation can last awhile. He isn't too surprised that Jennifer seems to know that, too.

He turns to her, looking to avoid an awkward silence, as well as fulfill his curiosity. "Why are you avoiding your father?"

She bites her lip a little, looking slightly embarrassed. "We have a few ongoing fights that make things strained, but right now it's mainly because, for the first time in about ten years, my parents were actually going to be in the same place on their anniversary…well, I guess it's not their anniversary anymore, but it doesn't matter, because my dad decided to go out of town."

Huck feels a pang of guilt, but reminds himself that he didn't ask Josh Lyman to randomly show up at his office. He decides to not mention that fact to Jen, and sticks to a topic he's all too familiar with.

"How long have your parents been divorced?" he asks. Jennifer looks away, uncomfortable, and Huck derides himself. "I don't know why I asked that," he comments. "I always hated that one. 'Oh, well, they got divorced four years before I was born, so…'"

He's glad that he manages to get a laugh out of her.

"The simple answer is three years. The complicated one…" She takes a deep breath. "Eighteen years ago, my parents bumped into each other for the first time in awhile—well, it wasn't a 'bump' so much as they were seated across from each other. On Capitol Beat. They debated, they bantered, they flew off and got married, I was born nine months later, and since then, they haven't stayed together for more than two years, and they haven't stayed apart for more than four."

Yes, Huck thinks, that is complicated. "Did you bounce between them a lot?"

"Not really. I mostly went with my Mom, wherever it was she was going. You know, Dad's been Sam's Chief of Staff for twelve years now, he's too busy to really take care of a kid. We tried it a few times, but he was gone so much I basically just lived with Ainsley."

"Who's Ainsley?" Huck wonders.

Jen looks at him quizzically. "Ainsley Hayes…Seaborn. Sam's wife? She…I thought you…" Looking at Huck's face, she can see he has no idea what she's talking about. "She's a Republican, he's a Democrat. Like…like Madison and Bailey."

"Who?"

"On Capitol."

Huck laughs—he'd actually forgotten about the show and its tedious love triangles. "I take it you're not a James fan?"

"It's not that I'm not a James fan, I just don't like him with Maddie. Bailey appreciates her more, he respects her opinions, even though they're different than his." She shrugs. "I thought…I'd read somewhere that they were based on Sam and Ainsley."

"They might be," he agrees. "I don't know. I didn't create them. I don't really handle the…romantic aspects of the show."

"So you can't tell me who she ends up with?"

"As soon as they flip the coin and decide, I'll let you know." She laughs. "So you…you're enjoying the show?"

"Oh, yeah," she nods. "But it's gonna be hard. The new season," she says softly.

Huck frowns. "Why's that?"

"Well, you know, with your dad…I'm gonna miss talking to him about it."

That comment is just registering with Huck when he's grabbed, arms squeezing his shoulders. He groans, not unkindly.

"You're going to have to stop hugging me eventually, CJ."

"I stop hugging you when you're gone," she answers, but she does loosen her grip. "Jenny, is he behaving himself?"

"He's being a perfect gentleman," she answers, smiling and making eye contact with Huck. It's at that moment that Josh walks over, and he throws a wary glance around before giving his daughter a kiss.

"Hey, Sweetheart," he says softly.

"Hi, Daddy," she replies, her smile fading.

"Where's the munchkin?"

"With Ainsley. Sam said she's okay. He came over to talk to us."

"Yeah." Huck isn't really adding anything of importance, but he felt compelled to speak. Getting a good look at Josh's face, he isn't really sure why, anymore.

"Good," Josh mutters. "I…I know Sam wanted to meet you."

Huck nods, biting back the urge he has to say 'Yes, sir.' Before, he and Josh had developed an easy rapport, but right now, Josh is definitely giving him a 'That's my precious daughter and I might possibly kill you' glare. Huck suddenly isn't so worried about avoiding his sister's looks. "Uh…the Senator said we should talk more before I leave," Huck says, trying to get Josh to focus on business.

"Do you remember Sam?" CJ asks, either unaware of the tension or trying to diffuse it. "He used to send you toys all the time."

"I remember that I should remember him," Huck answers, "but that's about it."

At that moment, a man walks over, interrupting. "Hey, Josh, what should I—" he stops suddenly. "Oh, is this Huck?"

"It's H.B.," Jennifer corrects. She is both completely aware of the tension, and not at all trying to diffuse it.

"Right," the man mutters. He gives Huck a glance, but his interest has already decreased, so he turns back to Josh. "Listen, I'm setting up—"

"Hey, Ron, I'm…with my daughter."

"It's okay, Dad," Jennifer says, not sounding okay. "I know you're busy. We just stopped by to say 'hi'."

"No," Josh insists. "It's nothing that can't wait a few minutes, right?"

Ron doesn't entirely look like he agrees, but he doesn't argue. "Sure. I'll find you in a few minutes."

As Ron walks away, Huck mutters, "Why does it seem like everyone knows me?"

"Because I brag about you constantly," CJ answers.

"Yeah, well, stop that."

"Never."

Jennifer is smiling at them, which brings back The Glare. She rolls her eyes.

"I was serious, Daddy, you should go after Ron."

"No," Josh says, his glare fading immediately. "I haven't even gotten to ask you about school."

"It's fine," she answers.

"You're not taking on too much? Because if you think it's too hard, you can—"

"Dad," she interrupts. "Graduating early is one of the few things we agree about, don't change that."

"I just want to make sure you still think it's the right decision."

"I do," she answers, not adding anything more.

"CJ!" someone calls out.

"Oh," she frowns, "I'm needed."

"So this is what retirement's like?" Huck wonders.

"I'm a consultant," she says, whacking his arm. "I'll find you again later."

"Yeah," he says, waving her away.

"We should really go, too," Jen adds. "Molly's saving us seats. And Ron has been lurking over your shoulder this whole time."

Josh turns around with a groan, confirming that Ron is in fact watching them intensely.

"I'm sorry, Sweetheart, I really want to spend some time with you."

She grants him a smile. "I'll stick around tonight, we can grab dinner."

"That sounds wonderful." He quickly kisses her. "Find me after the speech," he says to Huck. "I'll get you some time with Sam."

"Sure," Huck nods, as Josh walks off.

Jennifer looks at him. "Why's it so important you talk to Sam?"

"I don't know," Huck lies. He's not sure how covert Josh wants to keep the job offer, or how many people know the Senator is going to run for President. Come to think of it, Huck doesn't even know that, officially. He shrugs and puts on a teasing tone. "Maybe he wants to ask me about Madison and Bailey."

"Maybe," she giggles as they start to walk away. Huck feels like he can still sense Josh's eyes on them, but he's genuinely enjoying Jen's company, and wants to keep the conversation going.

"So," he says, turning to her, "how are things really going with school?"

"Well, I got stuck taking Economics, since I had so few options, I have to go to gym every day to be done by January, and then I run over to the community college to take a class to fulfill my English requirement, and my weekends are filled with watching the bratty little non-sister I never wanted, instead of working on my five-page paper on Beowulf, which, by the way, I don't understand at all."

Huck blinks. "So, it's good."

"Yeah," Jen replies sarcastically, shoving him a little, and he shoves her back playfully as they wander through the crowd, looking for Molly.

Josh's eyesight isn't what it used to be, but his hearing has held up well, and he can make out his daughter's laugh from across the room. That high, rolling chuckle that he'd thought would always make him smile, right now is making him seethe. He squints, trying to make out where Jen is sitting, and, he hopes, projecting a threatening glare.

Toby Zeigler's son is flirting with his daughter. That was not part of Josh's plan.

Through the haze of his thoughts, Josh hears a voice, urgently barking.

"Josh!"

He turns to face an exasperated Donna.

"Listen, I've run into a problem with…" she trails off, seeing something in his face. "You okay?" she asks, eyebrows raised.

"Oh, yeah. Hey, you seen Jenny recently?"

She shakes her head. "We had breakfast, but—"

"Well, take a look." He points across the room. "See what our daughter is up to."

Donna smiles. "Oh, she found friends. That's—" she gasps. "Is that Huck?"

"Yes."

"Oh my god!" She elbows Josh. "Huck is here!"

"I know. He's here, with our daughter."

"That is so cute!"

"That is not…that is not cute, Donna, that's our baby girl!"

"She's not a baby anymore, Joshua."

"She's 17. She is completely still a baby."

"Okay," Donna says, placating. That's not what he wants.

"You don't have a problem with this? He's showing an interest in our daughter."

"Are you saying he shouldn't show an interest in her?"

"Donna, I'm not—"

"Teenage girls have enough problems with self-esteem without their fathers chasing away anyone who pays attention to them."

"When have I ever—"

"That nice boy Barrett, he's afraid to call the house anymore."

Josh scowls. "That loser…he played the flute!"

Donna gives him a look. "I played the flute."

"You're a girl."

"And so is our daughter."

"Yes, a wonderful, beautiful, intelligent girl, and I think she deserves more than cheesy lines from a slick Hollywood player."

"Oh, Josh, it's completely innocent. He's dating Sally Carlson."

"No, that was just a blown up rumor," he dismisses.

Donna smiles. "Look who's keeping up with celebrity gossip."

"When it's going to be affecting my daughter…"

"Josh, it's Huck. He's Toby's son. Why wouldn't you want them to get along?"

"Why? Why?" His voice is rising up an octave. "How about because she's 17, and he's 25? How about that?"

That seems to stop Donna for a second. She shakes her head. "You know, that's about how far apart you and I are."

"Why do you think I'm worried," he grumbles, running his hands through what's left of his hair. "And I'd like it on the record that you were not 17 when we met."

"No," she grins. "I was 25."

He stares at her. "You were not."

"February 1998. I was not yet 26."

He looks at her and he sees that girl, eyes and smile wide, wearing that pass he knows she still has in a box somewhere. She looks the same to him now, even though he knows she's so different.

"I've known you for more than half your life," he says softly.

She chuckles. "Well, when you put it like that, it sounds horrible."

"So it wasn't?" he asks. "Horrible?"

She pauses, shaking her head in disbelief. "I came over here to talk about business…"

"And yet we've veered off topic."

"Look at that." Her voice is full of restrained anger. "Haven't I been clear, Josh? I'm here because I want to help Sam. This is strictly professional."

"I can't just shut it off, Donna. I can't do that."

"I don't shut things off either, I just set them aside for better times."

"Ah. But those times never come, do they? We never have the hard conversations."

She turns away, looking across the room, and they can both hear their daughter laughing. Donna's shoulders slump. "It wasn't horrible. It was difficult, and painful, and sometimes I really can't stand to be around you but…when I look at that little girl…" She wipes at her eye. "It was never horrible, Josh."

"Thank you," he whispers. She nods, her back still to him. "Um…so, why'd you come over?"

She laughs a little. "It's…it seems pretty silly now."

"You said it was about work. We're gonna be professional now."

She turns back around, and as if listening to his statement, her entire demeanor has changed. "One of the kids, for the thing later, he works on his school paper, and he wants to write an article about it."

Josh bites his lip "You're kidding."

"No. I hate the idea of denying him access, but we can't stop him from writing about his experience, and Sam was adamant about there being no press coverage."

"A college paper isn't 'press'."

"No, but it can be. The reporters are intrigued because they're not allowed in. It wouldn't take much for them to put this kid's article out there."

Josh sighs. "I don't really care if it gets out, as long as it doesn't look like we put it out."

She narrows her eyes at him. "Sam cares, Josh."

He closes his eyes. "I know. I know."

"What should I do?"

"Run this by him—we grant the kid an interview, Sam explains why it was so important to him that the press not be around. Maybe…I mean, these kids were picked for a reason, you know. If anyone would understand—"

"Yeah," Donna agrees. "That's a good idea. I'll tell Sam."

"And can you also tell him that if the kid still contacts the papers and the story gets out there, it isn't the worst thing in the world and he doesn't have to feel guilty about it for the rest of his life?"

"I'll try."

"I swear, this nobility thing of his, it'll either make us or break us."

Donna bites back a smile. "I think it'll make us." She squeezes his shoulder slightly, a nod to the earlier part of their conversation, and walks off to find Sam.

"Me too," he mutters, returning his focus to his daughter. "Me too."

"You're kidding," Jennifer laughs.

"I'm not," Huck insists.

"He did that sort of thing all the time," Molly nods.

"It was definitely after midnight, it might have been when the bar closed—"

"You never stayed out until the bar closed," Molly interjects.

"We were playing cards," he scowls at his sister, before turning back to Jen. "Anyway, I get back, and that's when I remember that I have a paper due in twelve hours. So I just start writing, I'm not even really sure about what I'm saying, get no sleep, I hand the paper in on time, and I got an A."

"That's crazy," Jennifer sighs. "I have three weeks until my paper is due and I'm freaking out already."

"Well, this was for a politics class. Politics is about bullshitting. English classes are different. Molly can tell you all about that."

Molly groans. "Here's hoping you never have to read Ulysses."

"Ah, yes, don't get her started on Ulysses," Huck teases. "Wuthering Heights, however, she loved."

"C'mon, the original soap opera. Obsession and manipulation and vaguely incestuous themes, what's not to love?"

Jen's laughing. "Oh, I wish I knew what you were talking about."

"No, you don't," Huck chuckles. "Stay away from the English major."

"Stay away from all majors," Molly frowns. "What are you doing, graduating early? The second half of senior year is the best time. Why are you in such a hurry to get to college?"

"I'm not really, I'm just trying to get as much as I can done before…" Jen trails off, not finishing her sentence.

"Before…" Molly prompts with a grin. "You want to go on the campaign trail!"

Jen stammers. "I…have no idea what campaign you're talking about, and…how do you know?"

Huck glances quickly at Molly, and she immediately knows to not mention the job offer. "How do I know that, twelve years after joining the Senate to set up a Presidential run, he might be considering a Presidential run?" She shrugs dramatically. "My psychic told me."

"Well, I certainly don't know anything about any campaign."

Molly rolls her eyes. "Sure, Jenny. You're just trying to get as many classes in as you can before the decade ends," she says sarcastically.

"Well, that's not untrue," Huck comments.

"We'll stick with that," Jennifer nods.

"I can't believe your dad is letting you do this," Molly says, ignoring them.

"Actually," Jen responds, "Dad loves the idea, it's Mom who's worried." She pauses. "About nothing. 'Cause I'm not going anywhere."

"Of course," Huck laughs.

"At least not for another…what, year?" Molly guesses.

"I'm not saying a word."

"You can probably even get two semesters done."

"Hey," Jen says loudly, gesturing towards the stage. "Our Senator is about to speak. What do you say we listen to him?"

"Let's indeed," Molly agrees. "Listen up, Hub, our Senator is addressing us." She pokes him. "Who knows, he may be President someday."

"Shush!" Jen protests, and they all stifle their laughter as a voice announces the presence of Senator Samuel Seaborn.