DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the characters or dialogue taken directly from the show. I do not claim to be a political expert, I am far from that, I am a biology major. Therefore I would like to preface this story with the notion I wrote this story out of pure love of the show and the characters. Thank you & enjoy.

Part 6: Thursday, December 16, 1999

"Mack, you have a call."

"Sure," I said to Mary, my brother's other assistant. "Office of Senator Whitman, McKayla Adams speaking." I was furiously flipping through hundreds of pages of legislation.

"McKayla, very formal."

"Hi, Josh, what do you want?" I looked up to see Mary coming over. "Mary, it's not in here, look under Senator Johnson's second term, around 1970. Thanks. Sorry Josh, we're losing our heads over something right now. What's up?"

"Well, um, the President was formally invited to a concert to be held at the Kennedy Center this weekend. And as you know we're trying to show our support for the arts, so it would be prudent for him to make an appearance. Apparently it's a vocal performance and it's real formal, black tie and such. So I was wondering if you would like to be my date. I'll be in a tux, it'll be hot."

"Oh Josh," I bit my lower lip. "Um, I'm already, um, going, you know my sister is a performer there. But I'll definitely find you when the whole thing is over. There is a gala that I'm sure Jed and the entire senior staff is invited to. If you wanted you could be my date to that."

"Okay, sure, that sounds good. I'll see you there."

"Yeah," I hung up and mused for a moment but my thoughts were interrupted by Mary who threw a binder about two hundred pages thick on to my desk.

"Enjoy Mack."

"Thanks Mary … " I muttered and began reading.

Saturday, December 18th.

The John F. Kennedy Center held a formal holiday concert. My entire family was present, nieces and nephews, grandparents, siblings, the Bartlet's, the entire senior staff and whomever they wished to ask, the Senators of New Jersey, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and the other Senator from Maryland. My sister was coordinating a large portion of the concert and had asked me to perform a special solo, Ave Maria.

The auditorium filled with Washington's greatest politicians and most important people. Tickets were scarce and space limited, especially since rumor had it the President was going to be making an appearance.

"Pam, I'm nervous," I giggled as I went up to my older sister.

"Don't be, you'll be fine. You are an amazing singer," she hugged me.

"I love your dress," I complimented as I looked at her strapless black evening gown with red sash that went around the waist.

"Thanks, yours is very nice, too, Mack, just don't trip over it," she smiled.

I looked down at the long dress slightly collecting at my feet. It was true I had to hold the dress as I walked around, but they didn't make it any shorter. I was wearing a white dress with sleeves that went just off the shoulder, a green sash that made a bow in the back and flowed down the dress. Pam had loaned me her diamond necklace with a brilliant sapphire in the middle.

The program began, featuring musicians from Georgetown where my sister taught and other famous singers. When it came time for me to go on stage I nearly passed out, but somehow made it to the center of it without falling or fainting.

"I am pleased to present my younger sister, and closet vocalist, McKayla Adams," Pam introduced me.

I looked over at the pianist and nodded for him to start.

"Ave Maria … " I began and I don't really remember anything after that – it all became a blur.

I remember bowing and walking off the wrong side of the stage. My memory kicked back in when the concert was over and all the performers went on stage for a bow. Then the gala began. I was swept up by my family, but all I wanted to do was find Josh. When I spotted him, he was leaning against a wall reading the program. I walked slowly up to him a smile.

"Hey you," I said quietly.

"Hey," he stood up and gave me a hug. "Now I know what you mean when you said you were already going …"

"Yeah," I didn't want to let go. "Did you like the concert?"

"Yeah everyone but this one person called McKayla," he joked. "Just kidding, I loved the whole thing. I didn't know your sister was a professor at Georgetown."

"Yeah," I looked up at him. "What's wrong Josh?"

"Nothing, just hungry that's all."

"Well there's plenty of food at the gala. Would you like to accompany me?"

"Sure."

I took his arm, but stopped as my hand brushed my ear.

"Shoot."

"What?"

"I lost a diamond earring … " I looked down at the floor. It was hopeless. "It was so little, see this one, it's just a little stud. Oh man … "

"Want to look for it?"

I sighed. "No, we should get to the gala … Damn, I really liked those … "

I took Josh's arm again and we joined everyone at the party.

"Mom," I tapped her shoulder. "Mom, you remember Josh Lyman."

"Josh … oh right, Josh Lyman, Yale Law," she smiled. "I see you two are finally talking."

"Finally," he smiled, but it wasn't genuine. Something was wrong.

"McKayla, wonderful," my dad kissed me. "I know who you are. You are … don't tell me … Deputy Chief of Staff Joshua Lyman."

"Yeah that's me."

"Alexander Whitman," he shook Josh's hands merrily.

"I'm pleased to meet you Dr. Whitman."

"No formalities Joshua, just Alexander," he hit Josh's arm.

"Well then you can call me Josh, Sir," he smiled.

We sat and had dinner and as the evening progressed there was dancing. We were dancing slowly when Sam came up and he was dancing with my good friend Mallory O'Brien.

"Mal!" I immediately let go of Josh and gave her a hug.

"You two know each other?" Sam asked. "Great … "

"Wait, are you and Sam," I looked from Mallory to Sam. "Oh my God so that's what you meant by – "

"Yeah it's great to just keep these things to ourselves, Mack," Sam pushed me aside. "Congrats Josh, she's a good one to have."

I resumed dancing with Josh.

"And I'm lucky to have you," I said quietly to Josh.

"McKayla, so you're with Josh?" Jed and Abby danced over.

"I suppose so," I smiled.

"You be gentle with him, I still need him to function at work. I have a country to run," Jed smiled. "You were wonderful by the way." I gave him a kiss along with Abby and thanked them.

When we began dancing again I looked up at Josh.

"Something's wrong and you're not telling me. What is it?"

"Nothing … " he replied absently.

"You're lying and don't deny it. What is wrong?"

"Nothing – "

"Josh!" I hissed.

He stopped and looked down at me.

"Let's get out of here."

"Sure … "

We weren't thinking and as soon as we hopped into a limo, Josh told the driver to return to the White House. Everyone was out at the gala. We were the only ones in the West Wing. We sat down in the Mural Room, me sipping tea. He did look good in his tux.

"I apologize for acting so weird … " Josh muttered.

"It's okay."

"There's an explanation."

"Okay … "

"You see … you sang so beautifully and that song, Ave Maria, it's got a long history in my life … "

Thus Josh unraveled his past to me – about his sister and how she was killed and how she loved the song. He told me everything, grade school right up to his time in the White House. We talked about the ups and downs of politics, our political beliefs, what we thought was wrong in the world and about our personal likes and dislikes. We fell asleep and the wake up call was Toby knocking on the door at 8am.