He let the president hug him, one hand still reaching back to grasp Donna's, utterly frightened to let go. He realized that he hadn't hugged CJ, or Sam.. of course not Will Baily.

He'd hugged Annabeth at the hospital, folding his arms around her. They had been close, she and Leo. Josh and Donna close, CJ had told them when they'd come for the foreign affairs briefing. Helen had been sarcastically identifying Annabeth to Josh as 'your new mommy' at every opportunity she had.

Donna had been the one to tell him that they were in fact quiet close. He'd laughed, admonishing his surrogate father for sleeping with his aide, as he pulled his former assistant across the bed to secretively make love to her again.

"I had to wait nine years." He had whined snuggling up to her soft naked body. "He didn't even make it through the campaign."

Thank God. Thinking that Leo had died knowing he was loved by someonewas what was kept him going today. It was also why one of his hands was still reaching back to grasp Donna's.

She was his anchor. His humanity. His love, and he would be damned if he was going to be without her ever again.

"Josh." Bartlett smoothed back the younger mans hair like he was a little boy.

It was no secret that Sam and the rest of the staff had gotten a huge jump on the drinking. The President of the United States smelled like a bar fly.

"This election.. he was having the time of his life Josh." Josh tried to smile, he knew it wasn't working by the way Jed Bartlett's eyes had dropped to the floor. "I mean it Josh. He wouldn't have wanted it any other way." He nodded at his former boss before the older man leaned in and kissed Donna's cheek.

"Our little Donna's all grown up." He breathed nostalgically. "Congratulations Dear." He shot Josh a quick wink and hit him with his elbow. "On everything."

"When did you become my Creepy Old Uncle Oscar?" Sam joked drunkenly coming up from behind them. "Are you going to pinch her cheeks next and pull a penny from behind his ear?"

"Ahh.. Congressman Seaborn isn't it?" He turned towards Sam. "That's Creepy Old Uncle President to you." He pulled Sam into a huge hug.

"Face it old man, you're days here are numbered Sir." Sam added the title for protection, mumbling into the presidents shoulder. Bartlett gave one of his rare out loud laughs.

"CJ? How did this stuffed shirt get on the guest list?"

"He wrote it Mr. President. Margarete assigned it to him."

"That's what your career has come to? You've gone from the state of the union to party guest lists? The House has not been so good for you Samuel." He glanced at Josh giving him a knowing smile, with out knowing anything. "You should throw him a bone Josh.. make him the Secretary of Agriculture or something."

Josh smirked, feeling Donna's hand tighten on his. He wanted to leave, to walk back to the townhouse and pull her into his bed with her and sleep for a year.

Instead he was hugging Abbey Bartlett. She was eying his beer and inquiring about his blood pressure medication and if he'd been getting enough fluids. He held up the beer smiling. She frowned seriously and asked again. He gave her his deer in the headlights look and pulled Donna towards them.

"Am I getting enough fluids?" He asked her warily, never breaking his gaze with the First Lady.

"Probably not." Donna muttered. "But I did get you to eat an orange two days ago."

"Fluids." Dr. Bartlett shook a finger at him before walking away.

"Yes Ma'am." He turned to Donna and rolled his eyes. "It would have killed you to say yes?"

"It would have killed you to answer your own question?" He considered that arching his eyebrow and shrugging slightly. She had a point .

"Sorry." He kissed her forehead. "It's this building. It makes me want to make you do thing for me."

"It's the building huh?" She rolled her eyes at him. "Good to know since we're going to be working in it for another four years at least."

"But I'll have a new assistant." He told her pointedly.

"You have a new assistant now." She took the beer from him, reaching over and grabbing a bottled water.

"But I don't like him." He narrowed his eyes as she handed the drink to him.

"That's because he's not as hot as me." She said softly, drinking his beer.

"Why is that again that I have an unattractive male assistant?" She shrugged. "Donnatella? Did you or did you not assign said assistant to me?"

She shrugged again, pressing her lips together to in vain as her cheeks arched up into little circles.

He kissed her again.

"I love you."

"You keep saying that." She smirked at him.

"You could say it back." He said flatly, giving her a serious look. She suddenly looked horrified.

"I didn't?" She furrowed her brow and he shook his head, smiling slightly as his expression lightened. "I do." She put her hand to his cheek. "You know I do?"

"I know you do." He lowered his lips, letting them hover over hers.

"I love you Josh." She whispered against them before lifting her head up for a chaste kiss.

"Sir! Josh and Donna are making out in the residence!" CJ yelled clapping her hand playfully over Danny's eyes. He pretended to be scribbling notes on the palm of his hand.

"You're fired Josh."

"I don't work here, Sir." Josh said happily.

"Oh right.. then kiss her once for me." He said laughing.

"Creepy Old Uncle.." Sam was muttering as he took another swig of his beer.