(J)

I will freely admit that I am a little nervous that I will mess dinner tonight. I asked Donna's mother about a semi-fancy restaurant. Donna's mother or Ann as she keeps telling me I should call her, loves me. She asked why I was taking Donna there for Christmas Eve dinner, not that she cared, I told her the plan to ask Donna out to the balls and she went all 'Oh that's so sweet, blah, blah' I'm glad she liked it now I just hope Donna likes it.

Today was a wild day, first we had a fanatic time in the shower. Then, I had the biggest breakfast since I was a boy, I had four pancakes, three scrambled cheese eggs, and two pieces of toast. I was full. Donna called me a pig and said that I should slow down, but everything was so good. Ann said I should eat it up because she knows I won't be getting home-cooked food in a while because of work. When she said that I stuck out my tongue at Donna and she said that I was immature. I will agree that I was to some extent a tad on immature side, but just like an inch.

When we went to her Aunt's house, man was that an experience. We get there, Donna and I take our own car because we have to leave a little early to get ready, and as soon as we get out of the car there was something like 30 people there. Donna saw this and grabbed my hand to give a reassuring squeeze. I stepped into the fire with the person who will save me. Donna introduced me to her family and I got a hug and kiss from the women and a handshake from the men. Donna met up with me inside the house, and said to come with her. We went to get our coats and gloves to get our bodies warm from the harsh winter weather. I followed her outside, when we reached the sidewalk I took her gloved hand in mine.

We walked down the street in complete silence as we watched other families celebrating Christmas Eve. The cold air was making her breath come out in white puffs, as it started to lightly snow. In the distance I could hear the song 'I'll be home for Christmas' coming from house. I stopped walking as Donna kept walking, when she felt me stop she did as well. She gave me a questioning glace.

"Dance with me?" I say as I pull her close.

"Josh, it's freezing are you crazy?" giving me her 'are you out of mind face' I get the face a lot.

"Please, just for a bit."

"Fine." She smiles at me and puts her arms around my neck as I put my arms around her waist. We sway both and forth to the music, she puts her head on my chest and I put my head close to her. I love the feeling of when she's in my arms, I feel like I cam protect her from anything. "Josh?" Donna whispers to me pulling myself out of my thoughts.

"Yeah?" she pulls away so that she can see my face.

"I just wanted to say that I love you."

"I love you too." She kisses me gently on lips as the songs ends. When the kiss ends we walked back to house hands intertwined, with her head on my shoulder. We get inside the house and take off our coats as her mother comes to us.

"Donna I can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Sure mom. Josh I'll be right back."

"Okay I'll be in the den with the men folk." I walk away to give them some privacy.

(D)

I watch Josh walk away and turn to give my mom full attention.

"What did you want mom?" I ask as we walk through the kitchen into the empty living room.

"I wanted to ask you a few questions and then show you something." We sit down in on the love couch. I turn to face her.

"Is something wrong?" I am getting very concerned right now.

"No, nothing is wrong. I just have to ask you. You're happy with him right?" I couldn't stop the smile from appearing on my face as I answer "Very, very happy."

"Good I'm so happy for I can see in on your faces when you or him talk about each other or to each other. I also wanted to talk about when you were outside. I was looking for you and someone told me where you were. So I looked out the window and who do I see dancing in the snow. So someone took a picture of the two of you."

"Really? Um… when you develop the picture can I have a copy?"

"Sure, now tell about what you are doing right now on your job."

I explained about how hard it is and how late we have to work to get people hired for different jobs. I told her about what we were going to try and make happen when we get into the White House.

"So what is your job going to be?"

"I'm going to be the assistant to the White House Deputy Chief of Staff."

"But I thought that you said- wait Josh is going to be the Deputy Chief of Staff? Wow! Good for you!" she says as she taps my arm.

"Mom, stop it god!" I said laughing at her. "Come on we should go and help them with lunch."

We get up and go into the kitchen just as the women finish.

"Well we got out of that." My mom whispers to me. We both laugh at that.

"I'll go get the men." I said to my aunt.

"You just want to see your man."

"Yeah, you're right I do." I say over my shoulder as I walk to the den.

(J)

I walk into the den and look where to sit. "Josh sit over here. I want to ask you some things." Mr. Moss said beckoning me.

"Yes sir? What can I do for you?" I ask as I sitting next to him.

"Well, first of don't call me Mr. Moss or sir call me Mark. Now what is you new job going to be?"

"Well, I was asked and accepted the position of White House Deputy Chief of Staff. So when I get to the White House Donna will be the assistant to the Deputy Chief of Staff." I said with pride.

"Well, I guess that's a good job." Mark said laughing. Then he became serious. "You know that u was a little nervous about my daughter traveling to a whole new place. But I see that I worried for nothing. For she made another family in New Hampshire that she followed to Washington D.C."

"Well sir, I mean Mark, all of us that were in the campaign became a family because we were always with each other. So we became close, everyone protects each other."

"Good I'm glad she has friends like that. Oh I should tell you if you hurt my baby girl I will hurt you." Well, oh my god, I will feely admit that I am more then a little scared now.

"I wouldn't do anything to Donna. The only thing I want is to show how much I care for her as she does for me." I say with emotion. He smiles at me and says.

"Good that's what I wanted to hear."

That's all we say on it because Donna come into the den. "Guys it's time for lunch." The Guys get and walk out, toward the table.

"I like this one Donna." Mark says as he pats my back.

"Thanks Dad, so do I."

He walks to Donna gives her a smile before he kisses her on the forehead. She gives him a smile and he walks away.

"So did you have a good time with my dad?" I walk to her and take her hands in mine.

"We had a great conversation. Have I told you that I love you in the last hour?" I lean towards her.

"Hmm…I don't think so, although I could be wrong." Donna says with a coy smile. I let go of her hands and cradle her face in my hands.

"Well, incase I didn't tell you. I love you Donnatella Moss."

"I love you Joshua Lyman," I kiss her gently as she does the same back to me.

"Mmm...Come on it's lunch time." She says against my lips.

I follow her as she takes my hand again. When we get to the table I pull out her chair for her and push her in when she sits down. I take the chair next to her and sit down.

(D)

My Uncle Tony gets up and holds up his glass and beings to speak. "I stand here and look around at my family and see two new people. And as I look I see Donna, not the old one, but a new improve Donna. She has improved in many ways, she has gotten confidence and built up her life on her own. She has helped getting a man elected president. At last she didn't let some idiot ex-boyfriend stop her from believing in love. So here's to new beginning and better things for the future. Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas." We raise our glasses then take a drink.

I feel Josh's hand travel down from my elbow to my hand and give it a squeeze. After he does this he takes my hand, brings it to his lips, and kisses my knuckles. I look up to him and give him a loving smile that he gives right back to me.

We ate lunch while the whole table talked. During this time someone asked about what would happen to Josh and my career's when get to the White House. That's when everyone got quiet. Before we could answer my father answers for us.

"Well, I must say that I am very proud of what my daughter and Josh get to be in the White House. Josh is going to be the new Deputy Chief of Staff and my daughter is going to be the assistant to him. And the way Josh has said about this is that she will be more like a second Deputy Chief of Staff. Because of what was is Josh?" he looks at Josh for to finish it.

"Well because she is more like an equal to me then an assistant. She does now help me figure things out in my head and make sense of them. She's going to be a big help not only to me, but to the President-elect." Everyone mummers and whispers to others about this announcement. Josh comes close to my ear and whispers "All I said was true, but what I didn't say was that I couldn't do this without you." He kisses my cheek.

"So is this the time to ask what is this surprise about tonight?" I whisper back

"No because it would be no use I'm not going to tell you."

"Fine" I pout

"Oh stop it, I promise you'll like it. By the way it is time to say goodbye because we have to get changed and ready to go." He says looking at his watch. He gets up and pulls my chair out for me to get up. We walk to my parents to say that we have to go.

"Mom, Dad we have to go get ready now for dinner. I'll see you both back at the house tonight."

"Alright dear, just remember to lock the door when you leave."

"Okay, I will." I leave to say goodbye to everyone else as Josh says goodbye to my parents. When we're we head back home for what I do not know.