A/N: Hey, old pals! So…it's been a while…sorry for the delay. I went through kind of a hard time in the fall when I was trying to finish this up and then kinda got really into CSI (it's an awesome show – check it out!). I thought I should finish this story off since I was only one chappie away. I hope you enjoy this kind of epilogue. It's a little shorter than the other chapters. Please check out my other stories at the CSI section if you're into the show. Thanks for reading, and please review!
The next few months was a whirlwind of excitement and change for the Lyman family. After 9/11, all the concerns Katie and Audrey had about their mom running for Congress seemed miniscule and really stupid. The country was in shambles, and they'd been worried about how their lives would change just a little bit because their mother was trying to do good by the country. For once, they were both beaming with pride for their parents.
Katie Lyman nervously bolted into her parents' bedroom where they were busy getting ready for the election night results. Her mother had run a wonderful campaign, and the girls were actually excited to get to travel the state a little bit with their parents, though they tried to stay home most of the time to keep up with school. It looked like she would win the race by a landslide, and they were about to head down to the campaign headquarters. Donna was sitting at her vanity center in the corner of the room and Josh stood beside her, buttoning up his cuffs.
"Mom, I can't get this necklace tied. Will you help me out?" A flustered but still beautiful Kaitlyn asked of her mother. Donna glanced up at her daughter in her mirror, seeing one of the loves of her life dressed to the nines in a beautiful powder blue gown, her hair swept up in a bun.
"Sweetheart, you look beautiful." Josh told his daughter, not believing she was already thirteen years old. She and her twin sister were turning out wonderfully and you couldn't find a prouder father and husband. He gave her a kiss to the check and gently stroked her back.
"Here, let daddy help you out." Donna told him, knowing he probably wouldn't be able to do it, but it would amuse her to see him try. He was lucky if he could figure out how to get Donna's bra off after fifteen years of marriage.
Josh let out a sigh, knowing that Donna was toying with him.
"Come here." Katie turned her back to her dad and her eyes met her mother's in the mirror, and they both smiled at each other. Katie bit her thumbnail as her father tried unsuccessful to clasp the necklace.
"I can't get it, Donna. My thumb's too damn big. I suck at this!"
Donna could tell he was getting frustrated and decided to help him out.
"No need for profanity, Josh." She got up from the chair in one smooth motion, and went to stand behind her daughter, nudging her husband out of the way. Donna was dressed in a business-like suit that still managed to look sexy to Josh. She would always look sexy to him. Josh stood by watching as his wife fastened the necklace after only a few seconds. Simple acts of watching her as a mother were so endearing to him and reminded him of just how much and why he loved her.
"Thanks mom." Katie told her and then scurried to the door."
Donna caught Josh staring at her and smiled at his adoring face.
"What?" She flashed him a pearly smile, becoming a little embarrassed. It was so wonderful to be completely adored by someone – and someone that she adored back.
"No matter what happens, I love you." He told her as he wrapped his arms around her waist, leaning back to look into her eyes.
"Are you getting all mushy on me?" She smiled as she swayed back and forth a little bit.
"I can't help it. You're so beautiful." He leaned in slowly to kiss him, his lips working slowly and sensually with hers. Donna felt a familiar tingle in her belly, and knew he'd have to stop kissing her like that, or they'd never get to her victory party.
"Josh." She stopped him, putting a hand to his chest. "Save that thought for later." Donna pressed their foreheads together and ran her hands up and down his arms, their eyes glued together. The moment was interrupted by another bolt of energy joining them in the room.
"Mom! Can I please wear my thong? My underwear's showing through so bad!" Audrey complained. The girl was one mouth-gaping surprise after another.
"Audrey!" Both parents reprimanded her at the same time, snapping their heads to face the beautiful young girl clad in a silver dress. She had 'sparklies', as she called them, hanging from her ears.
"Absolutely not, Audrey!" Donna told her. Josh was still speechless. His daughter owned one of those? "There is no way you are going to a campaign event in a thong!"
"So you'd rather my panty line stare back at the entire state of Connecticut?"
"Yes." Josh answered for her.
Audrey glared at him, her usual flare shining loud and clear. Though she had a bit of a mouth, Audrey was still adorable in her own attitude-laced way. Josh gave her his best no-nonsense face and this time it actually worked. Audrey huffed and stormed out the room. But Josh knew her well and knew she wasn't really mad at him – just testing her limits like any middle-school preteen girl.
Donna kissed her husband and then grabbed her purse from the floor.
"Alright, let's go!" She told him.
"Your victory party awaits." Josh followed her out the room.
"Josh! We don't know that yet!" She smiled. When they reached the living room, they found Katie waiting, sitting on the couch flipping through the channels, while Audrey was still in her room with the door closed.
"Audrey! Get your skanky ass out here!" Katie called her sister. "We're ready to go!"
About a minute later, Audrey emerged from her room in a different dress that didn't show her panty line so bad. It wasn't her favorite dress, but she was over it. She wordlessly joined the rest of her family and they all headed out the front door to their waiting limo, a special treat for the night.
When they reached the campaign headquarters, tonight studded with decorations and red, white and blue everything, Josh got out the limo first and helped his two daughters out, both waving politely to the crowd. Donna took a deep breath and held her hand out, waiting for Josh to take it. Josh leaned down and kissed her hand, smiling, then gently pulled his wife up from the limo. Tonight, she was the center of attention, and she looked radiant with happiness. Josh truly couldn't remember a happier time for the family, other than when they were married and the twins were born. He gazed at his wife in amazement, completely taken aback by how far she'd come in just a few short months and her heart-stopping beauty. Donna waved to the crowd, which erupted in cheers. Together, the family of four made their way indoors for the nerve-wrecking ending. If she won, Donna would be giving a speech, and if she lost, she'd still have give a concession speech. They all hoped it would be the former, and all the polls indicated it would be.
The night was a mix of emotions for the Lymans – excitement, nervousness, and the promise of change to come to their lives. Donna knew she had her entire family behind her now, which gave her that much more confidence, and it showed through. Josh knew she had that certain charm and genuine quality that voters went for. She was charming, she knew the issues, and she was making all the right moves. Josh was purely amazed by his wife, and he showed her often that night, giving her tender kisses on the cheek and placing his hand at the small of his back whenever they walked together.
Finally, it was time for the results. Almost all counties were reporting in, with Donna taking 64 of the vote and the two other running-mates splitting the rest. They had NBC news on, waiting for the election to be called in her favor. Donna and Josh were sitting on some chairs, with Katie and Audrey on either side of them, all holding hands and shedding a few proud tears as they waited. Though it wasn't official yet, they knew their lives were about to change, and the girls decided it would be for the better.
"Alright, ladies and gentleman." A news anchor came on. "We are ready to call the House race for district five (A/N: I don't know what district she'd be!) in favor of Donna Lyman…"
The rest of the speech was cut off by loud cheers, erupting in celebration. Josh turned to his wife and they embraced in a warm hug, filled with emotion. Josh could feel that Donna was shaking a little bit from the nerves and the excitement, so he stroked her back softly.
"I'm so proud of you, Donna." He whispered in her ear, and Donna was now spurting tears, overcome with emotion. It had been a long, trying race, and she was glad it was over now. She was anxious to get into office, however, and make some changes. Donna felt the arms of her daughters pat her back and their arms envelop them in a big family hug.
"Way to go, mom!" Katie cheered, her face beaming with proud and awe of her mother.
"You did it!" Audrey congratulated her.
The next few minutes was a blur to Donna, as many others came up to her to wish her luck and congratulate them, but none of them mattered as much as the well wishes from her husband and daughters. With them by her side, she knew she could take on Washington.
The time had come for Donna to make her victory speech, after receiving the phone calls of concession from her two opponents, which she gracefully accepted, offering both positive and praiseful words. As she entered the stage, Josh, Audrey, and Katie stood at the forefront of the stage just behind her, all three with big smiles plastered on their glowing faces. It took a minute or so for the cheering to die down, and then Donna started.
"Thank you so much, ladies and gentlemen." She took a calming breath. "I…This is really a dream come true for me. I've been dreaming of serving my country in Congress for a large part of my life, so I am just in heaven right now!" She laughed, and her family joined her along with many others.
"Um…first and foremost, I want to thank my family." She nervously gestured back towards Josh and her two daughters, their eyes welling up with tears of pride. Donna offered a half-smile, her eyes becoming watery also. "I'm sorry." She fought to control her voice and stopped for a moment. "I couldn't have done it without you guys, and your support means the world to me. You're the best husband and woman could ask for, Josh. And Audrey and Kaitlyn – you make me so proud every day and I know you will do great things with your own lives. But please save some time for me and dad, okay?" She smiled and the girls both nodded. Josh looked over at his girls and wrapped an arm around the pair, kissing Audrey's head, who was standing next to him.
"And of course, thank you so much to the voters. I know I will make you proud and you will be thankful you voted me into office. Look forward to some great changes and more help to families and to the state's schools. Thank you again, and I look forward to serving you in January."
With that, Donna turned back to her family and practically ran into Josh's arms. Though it didn't really give off the image of a strong, independent Congresswoman, it was what the moment was – a celebration of her victory, which was largely dependent on the support of her family. Donna wrapped her arms around Josh's neck and gave him a passionate kiss on the lips, Josh's eyebrows shooting up in surprise. Audrey and Katie both giggled, happy that their parents were still so in love. Cheers erupted once more from the crowd, and that was the celebratory beginning of a time of great change in the Lymans' lives. It would be a trying two years with its ups and downs, but a time of great happiness and joy as Donna was finally able to achieve her dream – and no one was prouder of her of her two girls and her wonderful husband, Josh Lyman.
THE END