A/N: Hope you like this chapter! This takes place in the immediate aftermath of chapter 3. I hope you enjoy it, please read and review!

Chapter 4: Making Decisions

After Anna and Ben had decided that, yes, they both wanted their baby, they were able to relax in a way they hadn't been able to since the previous day. For a few minutes, anyway.

The front door to the Kaplans' residence swung open, and Senator Mike Kaplan came out to the porch. "What are you doing?" He called.

"Nothing, Dad," Ben replied. "Just talking."

"Well, come in quickly. Anna, I've just spoken to your parents, and they will be here momentarily."

"Thanks, Senator Kaplan," Anna told him. As she and Ben stepped through the door, Lucia was waiting for them in the living room.

"Oh, Anna, I am so sorry this is happening! Are you all right?" Lucia asked as she embraced the teenager.

"I'm OK, thanks, Mrs. Kaplan," Anna said gratefully. She had always liked Ben's mom. Unlike his father, who had always had an issue with the Lyman family and thus was not thrilled to see his son take up with one of Josh Lyman's daughters, Lucia had always liked the polite young girl and had been a second mother to her in a lot of respects. This had been particularly true during the campaign, which now looked to be in somewhat dire straits.

"Well, you know if there's anything we can do, you let us know."

Anna nodded with a weak smile. Just then, the doorbell rang. Mike strode over and opened it.

"Delegate Lyman." Anna heard him say. "Josh. Please come in."

"Thank you, Senator," Donna said as they stepped inside.

"Hi, Mom," Anna spoke quietly.

"Mrs. Lyman," Ben added.

"How are you two doing? Have you met any decisions yet?"

Anna smiled. It was just like her mother to get right down to the practicalities of everything-though she could tell from her red eyes that she had done a lot of crying last night (probably in her dad's arms) after she had gone to bed past 11.

"Yes, we have," She answered.

"All right. Let's sit down." Mike Kaplan answered authoritatively.

They all sat down on the Kaplans' living room furniture: Josh and Donna on the love seat, Ben and Anna on the sectional, and Lucia and Mike across from the couch. Mike had plenty to say.

"Well," He began. "I think the first thing we have to consider is our children's well-being."

"I couldn't agree with you more." Donna agreed. Josh nodded in assent.

"And I think that the best thing would be for her to terminate. Right away, as soon as possible."

"What?!" Anna and Donna both asked at the same time.

"Now, hold on just a second!" Josh said.

"It's a perfectly simple solution. My son gets his life back, and no one ever has to know about it!"

"You mean, none of your constituents have to know about it the month before your re-election?" Donna asked knowingly. "What about my daughter? How is her life supposed to just go back to normal after something like that? It doesn't."

Anna was quiet as her mother and Ben's father went at it.

"Have you ever had an abortion?" Mike asked smugly.

"Of course not," Donna replied. Josh was secretly relieved, though he remembered with painful clarity his question to Donna when they found out Leo would have Down syndrome. ("You wouldn't ever consider…") "I may believe that women have freedom of choice in this country. But that's just it-it's her choice. I would never make that kind of decision for her." Donna then turned to Anna, and Anna felt herself sitting up straighter.

"Now, I believe Anna said that she and Ben had come to a decision. So, what is your decision?"

"Yes." Lucia chimed in. "Mike, I'd like to hear what Ben and Anna have to say."

"Well," Anna spoke up. "Ben and I have decided that we'd like to keep the baby."

There was silence. Then Mike exploded with, "Absolutely not!"

"Just hear us out, Dad," Ben said firmly.

"No, you hear me!" Mike interrupted. "I am not, repeat not, going to let you throw your life away for this-"

"You finish that sentence, and it'll be the last time you ever work in Democratic politics," Josh growled, getting up from the couch. And anyone who knew how high-powered friends Josh still had in DC knew that wasn't an empty threat.

"Josh, just calm down," Donna said, grabbing his sleeve. Much as she wanted him to punch Mike Kaplan's lights out, she also knew that they needed to work with these people. Making enemies at this meeting would not help either one of their children, who were already scared to death.

Josh looked down at his wife. He knew she was right. He sighed and sat down, though not before shooting daggers at Mike. Finally, Lucia said softly, "Mike, I'd like to hear what Ben has to say."

Mike looked at his wife, then threw up his hands.

"I'm gonna get a job so I can make regular child support payments." Ben began. "I'm gonna make sure Anna and this baby are taken care of. But more than that, I want to be a father." He shot a nervous look at Mike before continuing. "Dad was never really there for me growing up, but I'm gonna make sure that this baby has a dad."

"What about bills?" Mike asked.

"What about them?" Ben wanted to know.

"You think we're gonna let you continue to live in this house with a baby?"

"The baby and Anna will live with us," Donna interjected. "And we'll see that she and the baby have everything they need until she graduates high school. We won't provide everything, but we will make sure she can be the best mother and student she can be."

"What about diapers? Formula? A crib? You haven't even thought of how expensive a baby is, have you?" Mike said.

"Why do you think I'm getting a job?"

"And medical expenses?" Mike asked.

"We'll cover those," Donna replied. "And we'll help out with childcare while they're in school. I don't see why they should have to sacrifice their education for a baby."

"Fair enough." Josh agreed, sitting next to her.

"I agree with Donna." Lucia chimed in. "And Ben, just because this has happened, and just because I am not happy with the situation, doesn't mean that I do not love you or support you. I will always be here for you."

"The same thing goes for us," Josh said, directing this at Anna.

Anna smiled again. "Thanks, Dad."

"But before I agree to this," Donna spoke up, "I want some reassurances from you two."

"Okay." Ben and Anna both said.

"First, I want you to get jobs so that you can pay for what the baby needs."

Anna nodded. "Sounds reasonable."

"And you are staying in school."

"Yes, absolutely." Lucia agreed.

"Okay." They both said.

"We will help you, but we will not raise this baby for you. Do you understand that, both of you?"

"Yes, Mom."

"Yes, Mrs. Lyman."

"Okay, then," Donna said, nodding. "Then we'll work out costs, and scheduling later on. We've got nine months to figure it all out." She turned to Lucia. "Did you have anything else to add?"

"Just this," Lucia replied. "I know this isn't the way we all thought it would happen, but I want you both to remember that this child is just as much a blessing as it would be if you were having it ten years from now. Remember that, all right?"

Anna and Ben both nodded. It wouldn't be all sunshine and rainbows, but they would make it work.

By Monday morning, everything had been talked out. Mike still wasn't fully on board with the decision, but Donna had a feeling it had more to do with his senatorial campaign than with the fact that his son had gotten a girl pregnant. And speaking of campaigns…

Donna knew she had to come clean to her own staff about Anna's news. Although she knew it wasn't the smartest decision politically, she wanted to ask Annabeth if it was possible to keep it out of the news at least until after Election Day. That way, if she lost, the public at large would never have to know. If she won...well, that would be another conversation entirely. Still, they all deserved to know. Donna didn't feel right keeping a secret that big from her staff that had worked tirelessly over the last ten months to get her elected.

As she arrived at the campaign offices, she decided to start with Annabeth.

She rapped on Annabeth's office door. "Can I come in?"

"Yeah. I was just finalizing your schedule for the final 14. I've got a lot of events planned for Mt. Airy and Takoma Park, and some out here in Silver Spring and Chevy Chase. Oh, and I called Mrs. Santos, and she's gonna do something at the big rally we're doing in Damascus."

"That's great!" Donna praised. "Listen, I have something I need to tell you. Can we go to my office?"

"Sure." Annabeth followed Donna into her expansive office. The second the door clicked shut, Donna leaned against the desk and let out, "Anna's pregnant."

Annabeth's eyes widened. "Wow." She breathed. "How far along?"

"Two months, give or take."

"And the father?"

"Her boyfriend, Ben Kaplan."

"Please tell me he's no relation to-"

"Yeah?"

"I bet he's pleased." She remarked sarcastically.

"No kidding. I practically had to physically restrain Josh from attacking him when he made some flippant remark when we met with them on Saturday."

"I know Kaplan's a Democrat and all, but honestly? Something about him always rubbed me the wrong way."

Donna shrugged. "I guess we have to figure out how to get along with him somehow. We're gonna be sharing a grandkid for the rest of our lives." She drew in air. "Oh, my God, I'm gonna be a grandmother."

Annabeth's lips quirked up and stifled a giggle. "You're just now figuring this out?"

"I was so focused on the pregnancy part of it that it didn't hit me that that's what it meant. I'm only 49 years old."

"You'll be 50 in a few weeks."

Donna shot her a look. "Which makes me?"

"Not at all old enough to be a grandma." Annabeth backtracked.

"Thank you."

Annabeth changed the subject-slightly. "So, has Anna decided what to do?"

"She's going to keep the baby. With our help. Which is why I wanted to come to you."

Annabeth nodded.

"Is there any way we can...keep this out of the press until after Election Day?"

"You don't want it to get out?"

"Not right away. I want to protect her as much as possible. Maybe if we lose, it won't have to come out at all."

"And if we win?"

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

Annabeth smiled at her friend of 18 years. "So, how are you holding up?"

"Well, Anna seems to be coping well. She's got an appointment tomorrow, and-"

"Donna," Annabeth said knowingly. "I didn't ask how Anna was doing. I asked how you were doing."

Donna took a shaky breath. "It's been hard. Lucia-that's Ben's mother-says it's a blessing, but...I can't believe this is happening. Our lives have been changed forever."

"Yeah," Annabeth replied. "But you'll get through it. Just like you always have."

"Thanks, Annabeth." The pair embraced tightly.

"Now," She said when they pulled apart, "what about the staff?"

"Guess we better call them in and talk to them," Donna replied.

In response, Annabeth threw open the door. "Hey, main staff, get in here! Quick meeting!"

Her campaign staff filed in: Cole, the deputy campaign manager; Madison, former Press Secretary for Sam who was now communications director for Donna's campaign; Leila, the press secretary; Willow, the outreach director; Brett, the operations coordinator going back to when he was an intern on the Santos campaign; Tracy, the social media and technology director; and Ryan, Donna's personal assistant and campaign scheduling coordinator. All had come to the Lyman campaign from resumes, previous experience, and people just looking for a chance, something Donna understood wholeheartedly.

"Hi, everyone." Donna greeted. "I need to let you all know something that I just found myself this weekend. The reason I am telling you all now is that it may affect the campaign if it gets out." She took a breath. "This weekend I found out that my daughter Anna is pregnant."

Silence filled the room. Then Brett raised his hand. "Do you have any daughters who are older than 16 that we don't know about?"

"I'm afraid not."

"She's pregnant?" This came from Madison, who stood with Leila in a corner of the room. Madison vaguely remembered Anna from the first campaign she and Donna had worked on together: the Seaborn For America campaign. She had barely been ten then.

"Yes, she's pregnant. About two months, we think."

"Well, isn't this some kind of record for bad timing," Cole muttered.

"Cole? Something you want to share with the rest of the class?" Annabeth asked.

"We're in the final 14 against an ultra-conservative former minister. This is the perfect storm to lose the election."

"Cole's right. This could kill us." Tracy added. "Why couldn't she have come forward earlier?"

"Excuse me?" Donna asked, taken aback.

"All right, I want you to hold it right there," Annabeth said. "Donna-excuse me, the Delegate-just found out about this three days ago. She's in enough shock. I won't have you attacking her family."

"Are we issuing a statement?" Leila piped up. "I mean, let's start talking about logistics instead of debating bad timing."

"Thank you, Leila. Well, that's what we wanted to talk to you guys about. I would like to wait until after Election Day to make a statement."

"And if it comes out earlier than that?" Madison asked pointedly. "I know you're trying to protect Anna, but…we also have to protect your campaign."

"We'll just cross that bridge when we come to it." She replied. "In the meantime, for that reason, I want to keep the people who know about this to an absolute minimum. All right?"

"Look," Annabeth interjected, "we all want the Delegate to have the best shot possible. And if this gets out before Election Day, not only will it have negative consequences for her if Edwards gets ahold of it, but her kids will be put in the middle of it. And we want to do everything we can to make sure that doesn't happen. Got it?"

There was a moment of quiet. Then everyone nodded and said, "Okay." and "You got it."

Donna sighed with relief. They may have been caught off-guard by the news and how it was gonna affect what they had worked so hard for, but at the end of the day, she knew that these guys had her back.

A/N: Hope you liked this chapter! Next up, Election Day! Please let me know what you thought!